Koans & Select Literature

Under Construction

Four-Line Verse In Diamond Sutra

“Whatever has a form,
As a whole, is all illusory.
If you see all form as no-form,
Directly you see the Tathagata (Buddha-as-it-is).
That one raises a sincere faith on the Four-Line Verse in Diamond Sutra is not just a formal request for belief. If one could discern a core word out of this four-line verse, he would be the one who has really raised sincere faith.”
What is a core word of this Four-Line Verse?
What is the way to discern this one word?

Dok-San’s Bowl

One day Chan Master Dok-San (Te-Shan Hsuan-Chen: 781-867) was on the way to the eating room and met Sul-Bong (Hsueh-Feng: 822-908), who was in charge of the kitchen.
Sul-Bong asked:
“The bell and drum have not yet been hit, where are you going? “
As soon as Master Dok-San heard this question, he returned to his room. Sul-Bong told this story to his elder brothers disciple, Am-Du who replied:
“Oh, our Venerable Master Dok-San still has not realized the final phrase.”
Later, Venerable Master Dok-San heard this story and called his attendant to bring Am-Du to him and said, “You do not believe in me, your teacher?”
Am-Du whispered something in Master Dok-Sans ear, telling him what he had meant. Finally, Master Dok-San was satisfied.
The following day, Dok-Sans dharma speech was different from any before. Am-Du watched, and, clapping his hands, said,
“Now, the most pleasant thing is that this old Master realized the final phrase. From now on, no one would dare to challenge him. But it wont be more than three years.”
In this case, what is the final phase?

Brighten Eye By Re-Examination

Master Song-Wol said: “Hundreds of years ago when the Temple of Patriarch Paik-Chang (Pai-Chang 720-814) held the Transforming Ceremony for the deceased, Master Paik-Chang always recommended that the following Gatha(Poem) be recited for the deceased:
“Divine light shines of itself
Far away from dust and its origin:
Whole essence manifests by itself
Without depending upon any utterance.
The true Self-nature has no affection,
‘Tis originally complete and fulfilled in itself;
Merely depart from delusory karmic context,
‘Tis the Buddha as-it-is.’
Master Song-Wol continued: “This word ‘Buddha’ itself, is filthy and affected. What word would be most superior as a substitute for ‘Buddha?'”

Sound And Color

A student came to the Great Venerable Chan Master Pop-An (Fa-Yen 885-958) and asked: “How should I understand sound and color? ” Venerable Master Pop-An said:
“Here, good Monk, why dont you introspect upon yourself who is asking now? “
Later, Chan Master Ja-Soo sang a Gatha for this:
“Sound and color are merely two words;
The monk didnt realize those sands in his eyes.
Playing the jade flute in the yellow crane gazebo;
In the town near the river, the plum blossoms falling in May.”
How should you understand sound and color?
Jade flute? What kind of jade flute?
Plum blossom? What kind of plum blossom?