The Mumonkan: Chû the National Teacher Gives Three Calls [17th Case]

The Mumonkan: Chû the National Teacher Gives Three Calls [17th Case]

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The National Teacher called his attendant three times, and three times the attendant responded.

The National Teacher said, "I long feared that I was betraying you, but really it was you who were betraying me."

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Mumon's Comment

The National Teacher called three times, and his tongue fell to the ground. The attendant responded three times, and he gave his answer with brilliance. The National Teacher was old and lonely; he held the cow's head and forced it to eat grass. The attendant would have none of it; delicious food has little attraction for a man who is satiated.

Tell me, at what point was the betrayal? When the country is flourishing, talent is prized. When the home is wealthy, the children are proud.

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Mumon's Verse

He carried and iron yoke with no hole

And left a curse to trouble his descendants.

If you want to hold up the gate and the doors,

You must climb a mountain of swords with bare feet.

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Wandering Ronin commentary: Three calls and three responses. If someone asks a question, how widely can the answers vary? Is it good to be resolved and steadfast in mind among the myriad things? What is in mind, what is not in mind? As Foyan says, it is a question that we must ask ourselves.

Submitted November 03, 2019 at 04:10AM by WanderingRoninXIII https://ift.tt/2pzikqs