Instruction:

If there is even a bit of right and wrong, the mind is lost in confusion. If you do not descend to gradations, there will be no searching. Just say, is letting go right or is holding fast right? If there is even an infinitesimally narrow road of understanding here, one is still stuck in words. Moreover, if you are caught up in hidden and apparent actions, each of them is hanging onto grasses and clinging to trees. Even if you have reached the point of solitary liberation, you will not escape longing for the far-away gates of home. Have you grasped it yet? If not, just understand this totally revealed public case. To test, I bring this up. Look!

Case:

When Seppô was living as a hermit, two monks came to pay their respects. Seppô saw them coming and, opening the door of the hermitage with his hand, leaned out and said, "What's this?" One of the monks also said, "What's this?" Seppô hung his head and went back in the hermitage. Later, the monk went to Gantô. Gantô asked, "Where have you come from?" The monk said, "From Reinan." Gantô said, "Have you been to Seppô?" The monk said, "Yes, I have." Gantô said, "What did he have to say?" The monk related the previous story. Gantô said, "What did he say?" The monk said, "He said nothing. He hung his head and went back in the hermitage." Gantô said, "Ah, how unfortunate that at that time I was unable to tell him the last word. If I had told him, all of the people under heaven would not have been a match for Old Seppô." The monk came at the end of the summer retreat, told this story again and asked for instruction. Gantô said, "Why didn't you come sooner?" The monk said, "I did not dare to say anything." Gantô said, "Although Seppô and I were born of the same tree, he will not die on the same tree as I. If you want to know the last word, it is just this."

Verse:

The last word, I will it tell it for you.

The season when both bright and dark are of a pair.

Born of the same branch, they mutually know each other.

Not dying on the same branch, they are completely separate from each other.

Completely separate.

Yellow Head and Blue Eyes must also distinguish clearly.

South, North, East, West – let us return.

The night grows late and we both see the snow of a thousand crags.

List of posted koans, and introduction to Hekiganroku