Koan Of The Week!

Ophthamologist: Flax oil is good for dry eyes. 2 Tablespoons/Day

Wonderwheel

Venerable Dongshan: Because a monk asked, "To what is Buddha comparable?", Shan said, “Three pounds of flax.”

Wumen says: Old man Dongshan was able to interview with some clam Ch’an.  He only opened a little bit but revealed and put forth his liver and intestines.  So, although you indeed listen, just say what place do you face to see Dongshan?

The Ode says"Three pounds of flax” suddenly issued.The words are intimate; the meaning is more intimate.Those who arrive at theories of right and wrong,Are thus people of right and wrong.

Sekida

Case 18Tõzan's "Masagin"                       十八　洞山三斤  洞山和尚、因僧問、如何是佛。A monk asked Tõzan, "What is Buddha?"山云、麻三斤。Tõzan replied, "Masagin!" [three pounds of flax].  Mumon's Comment無門曰、洞山老人、參得些蚌蛤禪、纔開兩片露出肝腸。Old Tõzan attained the poor Zen of a clam. He opened the two halves of the shell a little and exposed all the liver and intestines inside.然雖如是、且道、向甚處見洞山。But tell me, how do you see Tõzan?  Mumon's Verse 頌曰 突出麻三斤 "Three pounds of flax" came sweeping along;言親意更親 Close were the words, but closer was the meaning.來説是非者 Those who argue about right and wrong. 便是是非人 Are those enslaved by right and wrong.

Blyth

Case 18 Tozan’s Flax. A monk asked Tozan, “What is the Buddha?” He replied, “Three pounds of flax.”The Commentary Old Tozan’s Zen is rather like a clam; when it just opens the two halves of the shell, you can see the liver and the intestines. But though this may be so, just say, where can we see Tozan?The Verse. “Three pounds of flax,” -artlessly, spontaneously it comes out.The words and the meaning are intimate, indivisibly so.He who explains this and that, yes and no, the relative,Is himself [only] a relative man.

User note:

‘Artlessly, spontaneously’ let’s see your expression

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u/abjectentrance

Submitted May 23, 2019 at 01:21AM by TFnarcon9 http://bit.ly/2ElfHwP