Teisho presented by Arno Hess on 16/06/2024 at the Pathway Zen Zenkai at Spring Hill, QLD, Australia.
Instruction
It transcends feelings and is removed from personal views.
It breaks free of fetters and loosens all that is sticking.
To bring forth the highest truth of the essential,
To uphold the Treasury of the True Dharma Eye,
You must be able to respond appropriately in the ten directions,
You must be completely transparent wherever you are.
This is the state you must directly attain to.
Just tell me: Is there anyone of the same attainment and same realisation,
Anyone who dies together and lives together with this?
To test, I am citing this, look!
Case
One day, Enkan called to his attendant, “Bring me the rhinoceros fan.” The attendant said,
“The fan is broken.” Enkan said, “If the fan is already broken, bring me the rhinoceros.” The attendant
gave no answer.
Tôsu said, “I wouldn’t mind bringing that, but the horn on its head would not be complete.”
(Setchô said, “I need to see that incomplete horn.”)
Sekisô said, “If I brought it back to you, nothing would remain (for me).”
(Setchô said, “That rhinoceros is still there.”)
Shifuku drew a circle and wrote the ideograph “ox (牛)”in it.
(Setchô said, “Why didn’t you bring it out sooner?)
Hofuku said, “Master, you are so advanced in years. Please engage someone else.”
(Setchô said, “Regrettable! All efforts have proved fruitless!”)
Verse
The rhinoceros fan has been used for a long time;
If you ask about it, you never know it.
The clear wind and rhinoceros horns are without end.
But they are difficult to chase after as the rain that has just passed.
Setchô spoke again:
“If you want the clear wind and the horns to appear again,
I ask that each of you Zen students produce a turning word.”
He asked, saying, “If the fan is already broken, bring me the rhinoceros.”
At that time there was a monk who stepped out and said,
“All of you, go to the Zendo!”
Setchô cried out “Kaatsu!” and said,
“I let down my hook hoping to fish up a whale, and only brought up this little frog.”
Thereupon he descended the rostrum.
