The Blue Cliff Record: He's a fellow playing with a shadow.

The Blue Cliff Record: Ta Kuang Does a Dance [93rd Case]

CASE

A monk asked Ta Kuang, "Ch'ang Ch'ing said, 'Joyful praise on the occasion of a meal'... what was the essence of his mean­ing?"¹

Ta Kuang did a dance.² The monk bowed.³ Kuang said, "What have you seen, that you bow?"⁴ The monk did a dance.⁵ Kuang said, "You wild fox spirit!"⁶

NOTES

1. The light shines again. This lacquer tub! It is unavoidable to doubt; without asking, you won't know.
2. Do not deceive people completely. He acts in the same way as (Chin Niu did) before.
3. He too acts this way; he's right, but I fear he's misunderstood.
4. He still should press him; it's necessary to be discriminating.
5. He draws a cat according to a model. After all he misunderstood. He's a fellow playing with a shadow.
6. This kindness is hard to requite. The Thirty-three Patriarchs only transmitted this.

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Wandering Ronin commentary: At what point does imitation stop and understanding begin?

Submitted October 27, 2019 at 10:44PM by WanderingRoninXIII https://ift.tt/2NilFlz