Instruction:

If you talk about the gradual, it goes against the normal yet conforms to the Way. Amid the busiest city, seven vertical and eight horizontal. If you talk about the sudden, it leaves no tracks. Even a thousand sages cannot seek it out. If you raise neither the gradual nor the sudden, how will it be? For the swift person, a single word; for the alert steed, one flick of the whip. At such a time, who is the able Zen personage? I will give you an example, look!

Case:

When he was staying at the government office of the Province Ei, Fuketsu entered the hall [to preach] and said, "The mind seal of the patriarch resembles the activity of the iron ox. When it goes away, the [impression of the] seal remains; when it stays there, the [impression of the] seal is brought to naught. If it neither goes away nor stays, would it be right to give a seal [of approval] or not?"

Then Elder Rohi came up and said, "I have the activities of the iron ox. [However,] I ask you, Master, not to give me the seal." Fuketsu said, "I am accustomed to leveling the great ocean through fishing whales. But, alas, now I find instead a frog wriggling about in the mud." Rohi stood there considering. Fuketsu shouted "Kaatz!" and said, "Why don't you say anything, Elder?" Rohi was perplexed. Fuketsu hit him with his whisk and said, "Do you remember what you said? Say something, I'll check it for you." Rohi tried to say something. Fuketsu hit him again with his whisk.

The Magistrate said, "Buddha's law and the King's law are of the same nature." Fuketsu said, "What principle do you see in them?" The Magistrate said, "If you do not make a decision where a decision should be made, you are inviting disorder."

Fuketsu descended from the rostrum.

Links:

List of posted koans, and introduction to Hekiganroku

Extended commentary on verse, case and introduction.