Instruction:

When it moves, a shadow appears; when it awakes, ice forms. Even if it neither moves nor awakes, it is impossible to escape the fox's den. When you penetrate to the bottom and attain complete faith, so that there is not even a hairsbreadth of a shadow, you'll be like a dragon taking to water or a tiger roaming its mountain. When you release it, even a piece of rubble emits light. When you grip it, even real gold loses its color. Even the koans of ancient masters cannot avoid becoming superfluous and verbose. Tell me, then, what matter am I explaining here? I'll give you an example, look!

Case:

Mayoku, with his ring-staff in hand, came to Shôkei. He circled around Shôkei's dais three times, shook the ring-staff and stood there bolt upright. Shôkei said, "Right, right!"

(Setchô comments, "Wrong!")

Mayoku then came to Nansen. He circled Nansen's dais three times, shook the ring-staff and stood there bolt upright. Nansen said, "Not right, not right!"

(Setchô comments, "Wrong!")

Then Mayoku said, "Master Shôkei said, 'Right, right!' Why, Master, do you say, 'Not right, not right!'?" Nansen said, "With Shôkei it is right, but with you it is not right. This is nothing but a whirling of the wind. In the end, it will perish."

Verse:

This "wrong!", that " wrong!"

It is most regrettable to meddle with it.

The waves of the four oceans are calm,

And all rivers flow down into the sea.

The old staff of twelve gates is lofty.

Every gate has its own way, in empty stillness.

Not still.

The able man may search for non-sickness.

Introductory post to Hekiganroku

List of posted koans.

Extended commentary on verse, case and introduction.