The Gateless Gate and Taoism?

Case 7 Jõshû's "Wash Your Bowl"

A monk said to Jõshû, "I have just entered this monastery.

Please teach me."

"Have you eaten your rice porridge?" asked Jõshû.

"Yes, I have," replied the monk.

"Then you had better wash your bowl," said Jõshû.

With this the monk gained insight.

​

Mumon's first comment:

When he opens his mouth, Jõshû shows his gallbladder. He displays his heart and liver.

--------------------------------

​

Can anyone help me understand the nature of Mumon's first comment? I am trying to better recognize the tao though the "seeing" of zen.

The use of the heart and paired organs (gallbladder and Liver) are an interesting descriptive choice. Traditional East Asian Medicine would describe Jõshû as speaking with a kind but decisive authority (which feels apart from the "implied" wu wei of the 7th case).

Is the use of organ properties a common tool in zen? or is this this phrasing only a product of the Chinese cultural language at the time?

Thank you.

Submitted December 28, 2019 at 04:59PM by BenevolentDead https://ift.tt/2F2PVxo