Ok, I try, with the classic-est of the classics.
Case 1 – Jōshū’s “Mu”
A monk asked Jōshū, "Has a dog the Buddha-nature?" Jōshū answered, "Mu."
Mumon’s Comment
In order to master Zen, you must pass the barrier of the patriarchs. To attain this subtle realization, you must completely cut off the way of thinking. If you do not pass the barrier, and do not cut off the way of thinking, then you will be like a ghost clinging to the bushes and weeds. Now, I want to ask you, what is the barrier of the patriarchs? Why, it is this single word “Mu.” That is the front gate to Zen. Therefore it is called the “Mumonkan of Zen." If you pass through it, you will not only see Jōshū face to face, but you will also go hand in hand with the successive patriarchs, entangling your eyebrows with theirs, seeing with the same eyes, hearing with the same ears. Isn’t that a delightful prospect? Wouldn’t you like to pass this barrier?
Arouse your entire body with its three hundred and sixty bones and joints and its eighty-four thousand pores of the skin; summon up a spirit of great doubt and concentrate on this word “Mu.” Carry it continuously day and night. Do not form a nihilistic conception of vacancy, or a relative conception of “has” or “has not.” It will be just as if you swallow a red-hot iron ball, which you cannot spit out even if you try. All the illusory ideas and delusive thoughts accumulated up to the present will be exterminated, and when the time comes, internal and external will be spontaneously united. You will know this, but for yourself only, like a dumb man who has had a dream. Then all of a sudden an explosive conversion will occur, and you will astonish the heavens and shake the earth.
It will be as if you snatch away the great sword of the valiant general Kan’u and hold it in your hand. When you meet the Buddha, you kill him; when you meet the patriarchs, you kill them. On the brink of life and death, you command perfect freedom; among the sixfold worlds and four modes of existence, you enjoy a merry and playful samadhi.
Now, I want to ask you again, “How will you carry it out? ” Employ every ounce of your energy to work on this “Mu.” If you hold on without interruption, behold: a single spark, and the holy candle is lit!
Mumon’s Verse
The dog, the Buddha Nature,
The pronouncement, perfect and final.
Before you say it has or has not,
You are a dead man on the spot.
Personal comment
Ok, I hate this koan, and this fucking "Mu". So I'm like, OK, I hate you, wait, I'm coming at you. Let's try to reveal my enlighted non-enlightment. My way of dealing with Zen koans is totally from an intellectual over-thinking perspective. That's my thing, I over-think things. That's how I integrate koans for my non-intellectual understanding, which never happens on its own, seriously. Let's over-think, to stop thinking, then.
"Mu." Seriously, man? I used wikipedia to try to understand this word. Totally not helping. OK then. Jōshū, why the fuck didn't you reply "yes, "no", "both yes and no", "yes or no", "neither yes nor no"? That would be easy, seriously. Ha, but that wouldn't be easy to make me understand. You wanted to say "Mu", so I'll consider that it's because the answer you wanted to give is none of "yes, "no", "both yes and no", "yes or no", "neither yes nor no". You wanted to say "Mu". What is your answer then?
And then today there was this post: Huineng's Verse (All things are without any truth).
> If you cultivate the practice of motionlessness, You become identical to the immobility of insentiency.
> If you are seeking the true motionlessness, [Then realize that] there is a motionlessness of motion.
> Motionlessness is motionlessness; Insentient [objects] lack the seeds of buddhahood.
> If you are able to discriminate well characteristics, The cardinal meaning [of Buddhism] is motionlessness.
Again?? Insentient > immobility > lack the seeds of buddhahood > Buddhism is motionless. Mu!!! Buuuuhhuuu!! Well yeah, you get the motionlessness of motion, not the motionlessness of insentiency, isn't it that clear? (no, Mu)
And also there was this post: Tokusan Holds His Bowl (Gateless Barrier 13), with its verse:
> If you understand the first word of Zen
> You understand the last;
> But these two words
> Are not one word.
Yeah, this is what "Mu" is to me, the first word and the last word of zen, which are both empty anyway because there is and isn't such a thing as first and last word, there is just one word. (Oh, wait, the guy says they are not one word).
And then there is this comment from u/AssholeBuddha
> If the universe were filled entirely with water, where could a drop of it be found?
Pff, love it, man. But you also know that it's bullshit as well, right? Mu!!!! Buuuhuuuuuu!!!
TL; DR
So you know what? Mu. Fuck you. Mu. Mu Mu Mu Mu Mu Mu. I think I totally got it. Please enlighten me with your comments. Love you all!
Submitted January 13, 2020 at 08:01PM by _djebel_ https://ift.tt/39ZYG9H
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