This usual manner of instruction is not like Toku-san or Rin-zai, who answer by means of sticks or scolding voice, Jo-shu just answered with simple common words. This “kōan” looks quite common, but it does not allow you to become accustomed to it.
Once Jo-shu asked a head monk of the zendō (Zen practice hall) who it was who had built the stone bridge. The head monk said “Riyo built it.” Jo-shu asked again, “When he wa building it, on what did he work
(i.e., did he work on subjective bridge or objective bridge or what
)” The head monk could not answer. Jo-shu said, “people talk about this stone bridge, but when asked this kind of simple question, they cannot answer.”
One day when Jo-shu was cleaning the main hall a monk came and asked him, “Why is there dust in the hall to clean
” Jo-shu said, “because dust comes in from the outside.” The monk said, “I cannot recognize pure clean hall to have dust in it.” Jo-shu said, “I see one more piece of dust here.” Those were the old Zen master Jo-shu”s way.
The Zen master is supposed to be tough enough to remain faithful to the way, but all the better to be not so tough and follow the way.
Appreciatory Word by Set Cho:
Without setting himself up as an isolated peak,
Old Jo-shu”s Zen is insurmountably high.
Who knows he is catching giant turtles,
In the vast ocean of Buddhism
That old scholar Kan-Kei may be compared to Jo-shu
Only to make us all laugh.
Suddenly breaking the arrows was quite futile.
NOTE:
Kan-Kei (895) was a disciple of Rin-zai, and contemporary with Jo-shu. He was asked a question similar to the one Jo-shu asked in the Main Subject. Kan-Kei”s question and answer was as follows: A young monk: “I have just come from the famous Kan-Kei Valley, but I saw nothing but a small lake.”
Kan-Kei: “But didn”t you see the real Kan-Kei Valley
”
The young monk: “What is the Kan-Kei Valley you mean
”
Kan-Kei: “Breaking the arrow suddenly.”
《Model Subject No· 52 From The Hekigan Roku》全文阅读结束。