“When you ride in a boat and watch the shore, you might assume that the shore is moving. But when you keep your eyes closely on the boat, you can see that the boat moves. Similarly, if you examine many things with a confused mind, you might suppose that your mind and nature are permanent. But when you practice intimately and return to where you are, it will be clear that there is nothing that has unchanging self.”

Dogen

A monk asked Kyôzan, “Your Reverence, do you know letters or not?”

Kyôzan said, “According to my capacity.”

The monk immediately turned around once clockwise and said, “What letter is this?” Kyôzan drew the ideograph for “10” [ + ] in the earth.

The monk turned himself around once counter-clockwise and said, “What letter is that?”

Kyôzan modified the sign” + ” into a swastika [卍].

The monk drew a circle in the air and lifted his two palms like Asura vigorously holding the sun and moon and said, “What letter is that?”

Kyôzan immediately drew a circle enclosing the swastika. The monk at once represented

the vigor of a Rucika.

Kyôzan said, “Good, good. Keep it with care.”

“Here is my wish for you and every other child, woman, and man on the face of the earth: Spend one week saying only kind, caring things to yourself.  Say thank you at least ten times an hour, direct five toward yourself and five to the world at large.  Compliment yourself (and others) each time an effort is made.  Notice all the wonderful qualities and characteristics about yourself and those around you.  One week.  You will never go back.  And your whole life will be a glorious meditation.”

Cheri Huber

Beiko had a monk ask Kyôzan, “Do people these days really need enlightenment or not?”

Kyôzan said, “It is not that there is no enlightenment, but how can it be helped that it falls into the second class?”

The monk went back to Beiko and told him about it. Beiko deeply agreed.

“The metaphor of movie for life is an interesting one. The frames go by so quickly that we retain the illusion of continuity and are distracted from the light that shines steadily through each frame.”

Robert Aitken

Kyôzan asked a monk, “Where do you come from?”

The monk said, “I am from Yû Province”

Kyôzan said, “Do you think of that place?”

The monk said, “I always do.”

Kyôzan said, “That which thinks is the mind. That which is thought about is the objective world. Within that are mountains, rivers and the great earth, towers, palaces, people, animals, and other things. Reflect upon the mind that thinks. Are there a lot of things there?”

The monk said, “I don’t see anything at all there.”

Kyôzan said, “That’s right for the stage of understanding, but not yet for the stage of personalization.”

The monk said, “Do you have any special advice, Master?” Kyôzan said, “It is not right to say that there is or there is not. Your insight shows that you have obtained only one side of the mystery. Sitting down, putting on clothes – from now on you see by yourself.”

“Who is there?” asks God. “It is I.” “Go away,” God says… Later… “Who is there?” asks God. “It is Thou.” “Enter,” replies God.”

Charlotte Joko Beck

Kyôzan pointed to the snow lion and said, “Is there any that goes beyond this color?”

Unmon said, “I would have pushed it over for him at once.”

Setchô said, “He only knows how to push it over, but he doesn’t know how to help it up.”

“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”

Matthew 7:12

Yangshan asked Sansheng, “What is your name?”

Sheng said, “Huiji.”

Yangshan said, “Huiji is me.”

Sheng said, “My name is Huiran.”

Yangshan gufawed great laughter.

Yangshan asked a monk, “What place did you come from recently?”

The monk said, “Mt.  Lu.”

Yangshan said, “At that time did you roam on the Five Elders Peak [at Mt. Lu]?”

The monk said, “At that time I didn’t go there.”

Yangshan said, “At that time the Preceptor did not hike on the mountain.”

[Later,] Yunmen said, “As these words were all for the cause of compassion, they have fallen into chatting in the grass.”

In a dream Kyõzan Oshõ went to Maitreya’s place and was led in to sit in the third seat.

A senior monk struck with a gavel and said, “Today the one in the third seat will speak.”

Kyõzan rose and, striking with the gavel, said, “The truth of Mahayana is beyond the four propositions and transcends the hundred negations.

Hear the truth!

A monk asked Dasui, “In the void of the Aeon Fire, most certainly the great many thousands are altogether destroyed, but I have not yet discerned if this one is destroyed or not destroyed?”

Dasui said, “Destroyed.”

The monk said, “In this way then, it follows the other is gone too.”

Dasui said, “It follows the other is gone.”

Verse

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.