Zen Master Kobong
Zen Master Kobong, was my teacher’s Master from whom he received Dharma Transmission. Kobong was an enigmatic man and had a flair about him even though he was a monk. The following is an exchange that was recollected by Zen Master Seung Sahn.
A lay student once asked Zen Master Kobong,
“From the ten directions, all humans come together.
Each of them learns the idle life.
This is the field of becoming Buddha.
The empty mind passes the investigation and returns.
Does this language help seekers of the way or not?”
Kobong said, “It does.”
The student then asked, “Which of these sentences helps people?”
Kobong responded, “Bring each sentence here and I will tell you.”
The student continued, “What is the first sentence, ‘From the ten directions, all people come together’?”
Kobong replied, “The dragon and the snake combine; enlightenment and non-enlightenment become mutual.”
The student then asked, “Who has learned the idle life?”
Kobong said, “The Buddha and the Eminent Teachers are swallowed up; the eye links the sky and ground.”
The student queried, “What is the field of becoming Buddha?”
Kobong responded, “From West to East, there are one hundred thousand, from North to South, there are eight thousand.”
The student then asked, “What is the last sentence, ‘The empty mind passes the investigation and returns?”
Kobong said, “In action and non-action, the ancient way appeared. The Dao is not dragged down into the chasm of turbulence.”
The student concluded, “Thus, in each speech, nature is seen. Each sentence is truth.”
Kobong asked him, “What do you see and what did you attain?”
The student shouted, “KATZ!”
Kobong shook his head and laughed, “This is grabbing a stick and trying to hit the moon.”
Zen teachers are very slippery when they speak, but if you see to the core than you can laugh along with Zen Master Kobong.
A lay student once asked Zen Master Kobong,
“From the ten directions, all humans come together.
Each of them learns the idle life.
This is the field of becoming Buddha.
The empty mind passes the investigation and returns.
Does this language help seekers of the way or not?”
Kobong said, “It does.”
The student then asked, “Which of these sentences helps people?”
Kobong responded, “Bring each sentence here and I will tell you.”
The student continued, “What is the first sentence, ‘From the ten directions, all people come together’?”
Kobong replied, “The dragon and the snake combine; enlightenment and non-enlightenment become mutual.”
The student then asked, “Who has learned the idle life?”
Kobong said, “The Buddha and the Eminent Teachers are swallowed up; the eye links the sky and ground.”
The student queried, “What is the field of becoming Buddha?”
Kobong responded, “From West to East, there are one hundred thousand, from North to South, there are eight thousand.”
The student then asked, “What is the last sentence, ‘The empty mind passes the investigation and returns?”
Kobong said, “In action and non-action, the ancient way appeared. The Dao is not dragged down into the chasm of turbulence.”
The student concluded, “Thus, in each speech, nature is seen. Each sentence is truth.”
Kobong asked him, “What do you see and what did you attain?”
The student shouted, “KATZ!”
Kobong shook his head and laughed, “This is grabbing a stick and trying to hit the moon.”
Zen teachers are very slippery when they speak, but if you see to the core than you can laugh along with Zen Master Kobong.
posted by Wonji Dharma at
July 14, 2009
4 Comments:
Great story, Paul. Thanks for sharing it!
Now I'm off to continue swinging my stick at the moon...
Yes, wonderful story! Thank you, Paul!
When Master Kobong gave your master transmission what exactly did the venerable transmit--and what exactly did your master receive?
Ardie,
My Lineage has a famous poem which was written by Sosan Daesa:
Before the ancient Buddha appeared
One thing was already perfectly clear
Shakyamuni Buddha never understood it
How could he transmit it to Mahakashyapa?
This means that Sakyamuni Buddha and all eminent teachers have made a big mistake because they opened their mouths. If you open your mouth it's a big mistake. Our true self is complete, it's silent and before thinking. So all Buddhas and eminent teachers have made a mistake. The real question is how can you correct the Buddhas' and eminent teachers' mistake?
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