Case 26 Two Monks Roll Up the blinds

Case 26 Two Monks Roll Up the blinds  二十六　二僧卷簾

清涼大法眼、因僧齋前上參。 眼以手指簾。

When the monks assembled before the midday meal to listen to his lecture, the great Hõgen of Seiryõ pointed at the bamboo blinds.

時有二僧、同去卷簾。

Two monks simultaneously went and rolled them up.

眼曰、一得一失。

Hõgen said, "One gain, one loss."

Mumon's Comment

無門曰、且道、是誰得誰失。

Tell me, who gained and who lost?

若向者裏著得一隻眼、便知清涼國師敗闕處。

If you have an eye to penetrate the secret, you will see where Seiryõ Kokushi failed.

然雖如是、切忌向得失裏商量。

However, I warn you strongly against discussing gain and loss.

Mumon's Verse 頌曰

卷起明明徹太空    Rolling up the blinds, the great sky is open,

太空猶末合吾宗    But the great sky does not come up to Zen.

爭似從空都放下    Why don't you throw them all down from the sky,

綿綿密密不通風    And keep your practice so close that no air can escape?

...

I've included the Chinese because it looks nice. I can't read it.

This case reminds me of ZhaoZhou visiting the hermits. Free to kill, free to save. Instead maybe I should write, free to gain, free to lose?

Anyone have any insights on this one? Anything clearing up Mumon's verse would be nice, I find it very unhelpful.

Submitted September 13, 2020 at 03:59PM by Xcvnnv https://ift.tt/3k86IBm