Teisho presented by Arno Hess on 16/02/2025 at the Pathway Zen Zenkai at Spring Hill, QLD, Australia.
Case
When Tôzan came to Unmon for instruction, Unmon asked, “Where have you come from?”
Tôzan said, “From Sado.” Unmon said, “Where were you during the summer retreat?” Tôzan
said, “At Hôzu Monastery, south of the lake.” Unmon said, “When did you leave there?” Tôzan
said, “On the twenty-fifth of August.” Unmon said, “I spare you sixty blows.”
The next day Tôzan came up to Unmon and asked, “Yesterday you spared me sixty blows
though I deserved them. I beg you, sir, where was I at fault?” Unmon said, “Oh, you rice bag!
Have you been wandering about like that, now west of the river, now south of the lake?” At
this, Tôzan had great realization.
Mumon’s Commentary
At that time, if Unmon had given Tôzan the essential food of Zen and awakened him to an
active Zen spirit, his family gate would not have become so desolate. Tôzan struggled with
himself in agony all through the night and at daybreak came to Unmon again. Unmon gave
him a further push to break through. Although Tôzan attained realization immediately, he
still could not be called bright. Now I ask you, does Tôzan deserve sixty blows with the stick
or not? If you say he does, then all the trees, grasses, thickets, and groves should be beaten. If
you say he does not, then Unmon is telling a lie. If you grasp this clearly, you are breathing
through one mouth with Tôzan.
Verse
The lion has a puzzling way of teaching its cubs:
The cubs crouch, leap and spring back swiftly;
Unintentionally, he gave a checkmate again,
The first arrow was light, but the second went deep.
