Friday Nov 21, 7:00pm
This Week’s Koan
Blue Cliff Record #10
“Muzhou’s Empty Headed Fool”
Muzhou asked a monk, “Where did you come from?”
The monk then shouted.
Zhou said, “This old monk, because of you, has one shout.”
The monk again shouted.
Zhou said, “After three shouts and four shouts, how do you make it come alive?”
The monk was speechless.
Zhou then hit him and said, “This is the top fellow of robbing and deceiving.”
Friday Nov 14, 7:00pm
This Week’s Koan
Book of Serenity #95
“Rinzai Draws a Line”
Rinzai asked the temple steward, “Where have you come from?”
The temple steward said, “From selling brown rice in the province.”
Rinzai said, “Did you sell all of it?”
The manager said, “Yes, I sold all of it.”
Rinzai drew a line with his staff and said, “Have you sold all of this too?”
The manager shouted, “Kaatz!” Rinzai immediately struck him.
Later, the cook came to Rinzai, who told him about this incident. The monk said,
“The steward didn’t understand Your Reverence’s intention.”
Rinzai said, “How about you?”
The monk made a deep bow. Rinzai struck him likewise.
Friday Oct 7, 7:00pm
This Week’s Koan
Book of Serenity #38
“Rinzai’s Person of No Rank”
Rinzai instructed his assembly and said, “There is one true person of no rank, always coming out and going in through the gates of your face. Beginners who have not yet witnessed that, look! look!”
Then a monk came out and asked, “What is the one true person of no rank?”
Rinzai descended from the rostrum and grabbed him. The monk hesitated.
Rinzai pushed him away and said, “The true person of no rank — what a shit-stick you are!”