Instruction:

You establish which is the snake and which the dragon, distinguish stone from jewel, discern black and white, and settle all hesitancy. If you do not have the frontal eye and if you don't wear a talisman under your elbow, you'll easily miss a living moment. Right now, seeing and hearing are unobscured, sounds and colors are clear and true. Tell me, is this black or is it white? Bent or straight? Having come this far, how do you discern it?

Case:

Manjusri asked Mujaku, "Where have you come from?" Mujaku said, "From the south." Manjusri said, "How is the Buddhist Dharma in the south maintained?" Mujaku said, "The monks of this age of the perishing Dharma are venerating the precepts a little." Manjusri said, "How many monks are over there?" Mujaku said, "Three hundred here, five hundred there." Mujaku asked Manjusri, "How is the Buddhist Dharma maintained here?" Manjusri said, "Worldly and saints live together, dragons and snakes are mixed with each other." Mujaku said, "How many monks are here?" Manjusri said, "Three three before, three three after."

Verse:

Thousands of mountains range side by side, majestic blue is their color.

Who says that he spoke with Manjusri?

How ridiculous to ask how many monks on Mt. Seiryô!

Three three before, three three after.

Verse:

Entering the grasses, leaving the grasses:

Who knows how to track him down?

The white clouds piled up, the red sun shining bright.

Turn to the left, no blemishes;

Turn to the right, already grown old.

Don't you see the man of Cold Mountain, who disappeared so early?

He has not been able to return for ten years,

And has forgotten the way he came.

Links:

List of posted koans, and introduction to Hekiganroku

Extended commentary on verse, case and introduction.