The Measuring Tap Case 8: Luzu's "Eating"

A monk asked Luzu, (This wall-facing fellow retards people.) “What is unspoken speech?” (What are you saying?)

Luzu said, “Where is your mouth?” (Danger!)

The monk said, “I have no mouth.” (Bumped.)

Luzu said, “What do you eat with?” (Here’s a second ladle of foul water.)

Xuedou brought this up and said, “He should whack him across the back right away. (This would still be too late.)

This type of fellow can’t shut his mouth once he’s opened it, and can’t open his mouth once he’s shut it.” (Xuedou should get whacked instead of this monk.)

Yuanwu said, Luzu studied with Mazu; he dwelt on Mt. Lu in Zhi province. When he saw a monk coming, he’d immediately face the wall. He directly got down to the essential, but it was hard to reach.

When Nanquan heard of this, he said, "I usually tell people to understand before the Buddhas appeared in the world, and still don’t find one or a half; as for him this way he’ll go on indefinitely.”

One day Nanquan came and patted Luzu on the back.

Luzu said, “Who is it?”

Nanquan said, “Puyuan.”

Luzu said, “How are you?”

Nanquan said, “As usual.”

Luzu said, “You’re so talkative!”

A monk asked, “What are the twin trees [where Buddha died]?”

Luzu said, “The formless body within the body of form.”

The monk said, “What is the formless body within the body of form?”

Luzu said, “Iron Kunlun Mountains under a gold incense burner.”

The monk also asked, “Where should a student apply effort?”

Luzu said, “When spring comes, the grass is naturally green.”

The monk said, “Where does one not apply effort?”

Luzu said, “When mountains crumble, rocks fall; when burning along a river, fire travels.”

Luzu helped people this way—how do you understand? Try to investigate thoroughly. This is why an ancient said, “If you want to attain intimacy, don’t ask with a question.”

This monk posed a question, and Luzu replied this way. The monk speaking further this way was undeniably extraordinary, but Luzu had the forge and bellows of an adept; he had great technique—the monk couldn’t get past him.

Later on, Xuedou didn’t agree; he said he should have whacked him right across the back. You all should say something here in place of the monk to avoid Xuedou saying this. If you have eyes and brains you’ll never make a living in words.

AssholeBuddha Commentary:

I like this Luzu guy, even Nanquan seemed quite fond of him. As for turning and facing the wall whenever a monk approached, what an expedient means to illuminate the monks inquiry before their question could even be posed!

It's a damn shame that such a direct demonstration went over so many monks heads, seeing the fundamental principle displayed right before their face and yet they still couldn't perceive it!

As for those who still seek enlightenment through methods and practices; when spring comes, do you exert yourself to paint the grass green? When fall comes, do you exert yourself to paint the foliage yellow, red, and orange?

KEE-YAAAAAAAAAAH!!!

Submitted December 30, 2019 at 07:12AM by AssholeBuddha https://ift.tt/2rA2Pj4