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The Gateless gate...

This discussion was created from comments split from: Zen koan in Mumonkan (Gateless Gate).

Comments

  • jwredeljwredel Albuquerque Veteran

    I just came across this post - back to the original question -

    (Nearly) every koan is actually quite practical, has a specific goal and this one is no exception. With a hint and some real work, everyone should be able to get to the bottom of it. So, the title of this one could easily be:

    Cognition ... What do we know and how do we know it to be actually true?

    Some questions to ponder:
    What is it that Xuefeng had assumed about awakening (that we may also assume)?
    What did he automatically assume about what Yantou had said?
    Given Deshan's lecture, what do we assume about what was whispered?
    What do we as readers take away from Yantou's declaration?

    HozanBuddhadragon
  • misecmisc1misecmisc1 I am a Hindu India Veteran

    Thanks for bringing my above post. Honestly speaking, when in the recent discussions web-page of this website, I saw the title of this post I thought what is the heading zen koan where, then when I saw my icon beside the thread - i thought What? I raised this thread - I do not remember anything about this thread. Then out of curiosity opened this thread saw your above post - saw your questions, then was thinking what was the koan which I had posted in this thread, then went to the top of the thread and saw that I had raised which koan - Silly me, don't even remember which threads I have raised.

    It was quite like as some friend reminded of some past days - so read the post from my starting post till your above post - where are @how , @Cinorjer - these days?

    Coming to the above koan, last word of the truth - my current understanding says there is no truth, so how can there be last word of truth. Deshan was hungry, so he went to the kitchen with the bowl. Xuefung still having the notion that master should know everything regarding rules of monastery, should follow them - so he tells Yantou about how Deshan slipped in his role as an abbot as per Xeufung's point of view. Xeufung may have the notion that Deshan if he is enlightened, should be following the Zen rules, which were made in the monastery for the Zen monks to follow to help them in their practice to reach enlightenment - so when Deshan missed a rule, Xeufung may have thought that Deshan may not be totally enlightened.
    What Yantou whispered to Deshan, this I do not know. Why Deshan gave a totally different speech the next day - I do not know.

  • misecmisc1misecmisc1 I am a Hindu India Veteran

    @jwredel: Thanks for bringing my above post.

  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator

    Hello, @jwredel . I don't think anyone has welcomed you yet. Nice to meet you.
    You have a lot of information under your belt.

    Good reading.

  • jwredeljwredel Albuquerque Veteran

    Thank you @federica. Yes, I have been a student in the Zen tradition for nearly 30 years.

    Hozan
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator

    Oh, so you know a bit about it then. ;)

  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator

    I posted this thread earlier today. You may already have seen it. I'm sure you can relate to the content. I hope you enjoy it.

  • misecmisc1misecmisc1 I am a Hindu India Veteran
    edited November 2017

    Thanks @jwredel . Can you also please have a look at this thread http://newbuddhist.com/discussion/25323/checking-my-understanding-from-zen-perspective which I raised for checking my understanding from Zen perspective. Thanks in advance.

  • BuddhadragonBuddhadragon Ehipassiko & Carpe Diem Samsara Veteran

    I am reminded of Jane Hirshfield's definition of Zen:

    "Zen pretty much comes down to three things:
    everything changes, everything is connected, pay attention"

    HozanShoshin
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