The Mumonkan: One, going to the bottom of the sea, lifts up clouds of dust; the other, on the top of the highest mountain, rises towering waves to wash the sky.

The Mumonkan: Kempõ's One Road [48th Case]

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A monk asked Kempõ Oshõ, "It is written, 'Bhagavats [Buddhist deities] in the ten directions. One straight road to Nirvana.' I still wonder where the road can be."¹

Kempõ lifted his staff, drew a line, and said, "Here it is."²

Later the monks asked the same question to Unmon, who held up his fan and said, "This fan jumps up to the thirty-third heaven and hits the nose of the deity Sakra Devanam Indra. When you strike the carp of the eastern sea, the rain comes down in torrents."³

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Mumon's Comment

One, going to the bottom of the sea, lifts up clouds of dust; the other, on the top of the highest mountain, rises towering waves to wash the sky.⁴

One holding fast, the other letting go, each stretches out his hand to support the profound teaching.⁵

They are just like two riders starting from opposite ends of the course and meeting in the middle.

But none on earth can be absolutely direct.⁶

When examined with a true eye, neither of these two great masters knows the road.

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Mumon's Verse

Before a step is taken, the goal is reached;⁷

Before the tongue is moved, the speech is finished.

Though each move is ahead of the next,

There is still a transcendent secret.

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Commentary and questions:

1. That sounds like bait for a trap; what was the monk's purpose in saying this?
2. That fellow seems to be playing with form and concepts. Who could leap clear of this?
3. Why would Unmon say something so controversial and so brave? haha
4. Mumon caught me in his trap with this one, that old bastard.
5. One hand up, one hand down; I ask you, is it possible to steal from a master thief?
6. Here Mumon uses skillful means to silence the tongues of all patriarchs and patchrobed monks.
7. The path is as easy or as difficult as you determine for it to be.

Submitted November 04, 2019 at 10:27PM by WanderingRoninXIII https://ift.tt/2WHqHMR