March 1964
Originally offered: March 1st, 1964 | Modified October 27th, 2009 by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi
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MODEL SUBJECT NO. 49
FROM THE HEKIGAN ROKU
(BLUE CLIFF RECORDS)
With a commentary by Engo-zenji
Translated by Reverend Suzuki, Master of Zen Center
March 1964
San-cho and “The Golden Scales” Escaping from the Net
Introductory Word:
Engo introducing the subject said: Seven piercings and eight holes, snatching the drums and carrying off the banner (in war-time to pierce the enemy”s lines in seven or eight places and to snatch the enemy”s drums and banner is metaphorically compared to the great activity of San-cho in the main subject). A hundred ramparts and a thousand entrenchments, watching the front and guarding the rear (comparisons to Sep-po”s way of attending to San-cho). Or sitting on the tiger”s head and seizing its tail: such is not good enough to compare the great activity of skillful Zen Master (San-cho). Even though an ox-head disappears and a horse-head appears, this would not be miraculous enough (in comparison to the skill of Sep-po). So ponder what you will do, if you come across a man of such surpassingly great activity.
Main Subject:
Attention! San-cho asked Sep-po: “What (Why
) does a mysterious golden-scaled carp escaped from the fishing net cast
” Sep-po said, “I would like to wait for your coming out of the fishing net and then answer you.” San-cho said, “You, who have fifteen hundred disciples do not understand what I say.” Sep-po said: “this old monk is too busy in managing temple affairs to attend to you.”
Appreciatory Word (by Set-cho with notes by Reverend Suzuki)
“Do not say that the golden carp which has jumped out of the fishing net is staying quietly in the water. [He is] loosening the heavens, moving the earth, shaking his fins, opening out its tail.” [This refers to San-cho”s statement: "You who have 1500 disciples ..." .] “Spouting water to a thousand feet, a great white whale will leap through the flood. After a great thunderstorm, a cool wind came.” [This refers to Sep-po”s statement: ”This old monk is too busy ...". ] “Oh, this wonderful pure clean wind, who knows the mystery of such tremendous cleansing power!”
Interpretation of Main Subject (A direct translation of Engo”s remarks in the “Hyo-sho”, with some notes by Reverend Suzuki.)
Sep-po and San-cho-with questions and answers, giving and taking, crossing words with one another–neither won nor lost. Just think what kind of wisdom they have. San-cho had received Rinzai”s transmission and had traveled many places. It is no wonder that he was treated as a high monk. Look at the following questions and answers made between Sep-po and him. Perhaps not many people can understand the deep meaning of this dialogue without being in the realm of radical Buddhism.
San-cho asked Sep-po: “What does the mysterious golden carp escaped from a fishing net cast
” Now ponder what he meant. What is the food for the golden-scaled fish
Sep-po, who was also a great master said to San-cho: “I would like to wait for your coming-out from the net and then answer you.”
Fun-yo called the kind of question that San-cho asked, “a question presenting one”s own understanding,” (and in the Soto school they called this kind of question a “metaphorical question.”) You may say that San-cho was a great golden-scaled carp escaped from the fishing net with a great incomparable wisdom and activity. However, Sep-po, a skillful master, did not give San-cho full play, saying: “I will wait for your coming out of the net.” Look! Those two masters are standing at the top of the ten thousand feet cliff!
However, but for San-cho”s next instantaneous statement, the question and answer would not make full sense. San-cho said to Sep-po: “Although yo…
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