Koans & Select Literature
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?
What is Oneness before we call it One?
The human mind is composed of many things at once. But to reach a decision, human thought approaches a oneness. And the origin of religion is in that oneness.
Truth is One Thing by its very nature. In this connection, a person can realize that it is also oneness to gain enlightenment or to fail to gain enlightenment.
SEEING AND LISTENING IS ONENESS.
LIFE AND DEATH IS ONENESS.
MIND AND BODY IS ALL IN ONE.
FORM OR NO FORM IS ONENESS.
We all hope to gain peace through oneness. But this attachment to oneness, like the delusion of an imaginary oasis in the desert, can also lead to other attachments such as Obstinacy and Contention or to a dogmatic philosophy such as Totalitarianism, Individualism, or Unification-ism. Further, these oneness “ism’s” can lead to War and Killing.
Don’t you think you are killing time by gathering here with these conceptions?
Today, I would like us to be blessed with a great freedom, that can overcome suffering and conflict completely.
Then, what is Oneness before we call it One?
(The answer will be hidden)
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR!
ECHOS FROM THE EMPTY VALLEY.
IT IS VERY HARD TO EAT RICE
AND TO EVACUATE YOURSELF.
WHEN SOMEBODY ASKS ME
WHAT GIVES ME THE GRACE
TO DO THAT,
I WILL ANSWER THAT
THE SPRING FLOWER
HAS COME INTO FULL BLOOM
IN MANHATTAN
BEFORE THE AUTUMN WIND
CAN SIT IN NEW JERSEY.
Tak! Tak! Tak! (The sound of bamboo stick)
Ven. Zen Master Pohwa Sunim concluded his Dharma Speech on “Religions Across America Day – National Vigil for Tolerance.” 1996, NYC
After the Beginning
After the beginning, everything became a mess.
Buddha and sentient beings wrestled in the mud.
God and sinners were all mixed up. So, I am not
asking about ‘after the beginning.’ Tell me something
about ‘before the beginning.’
When nobody answered, Sunim replied:
Before the donkey was finished, the horse arrived.
When there is beginning,
There is no ending.
When there is no beginning,
There is ending.
When there is no beginning nor ending,
Sun sets in the West, Moon rises in the East.
Tak! Tak! Tak! (Sound of bamboo stick.)
(Sunim Concluded the Dharma Talk)