Blue Cliff Record 1, Book of Serenity 2

11
Blue Cliff Record (Hekiganroku, Biyan Lu) #1
Book of Serenity (Shoyoroku, Congrong Lu) #2
Emperor Wu Asks Bodhidharma

Empires of Liang and Wei, 6th Century
Yangtze River (shown) flows through Liang

Personnel

• Emperor Wu of Liang, 464-549, reigned 502-549. Liang was a region of southeast China. Wu "was the founding emperor of the Liang Dynasty of Chinese history. His reign, until the end, was one of the most stable and prosperous during the Southern Dynasties" (Wikipedia). He was one of China's earliest Buddhist emperors. He built many temples, translated sutras, and himself gave lectures on Buddhism. See also BCR67
• BODHIDHARMA (Bodai Daruma, 460? -536?, 1st gen), disciple of Prajnatara
• Baozhi (418-524). A Buddhist monk and trusted advisor to Emperor Wu
Date: 520

Yuanwu's Preface

When you see smoke on the other side of the mountain, you know immediately there is fire.
When you see horns on the other side of the fence, you know straight away there is an ox.
To understand three when one is raised, or to judge a minute weight at one glance: This is the every day food and drink of a patch-robed monk.
When one has cut off the myriad streams, one appears in the east and disappears in the west, opposes or complies in all directions, gives or takes away with perfect freedom.
At such time, just say, who lives and acts like this?
Observe well Xuedou's entangling vines.

Wansong's Preface

Benka presented the jewel three times, yet he did not escape punishment.
When a luminous jewel is thrown to anyone in the darkness, they would certainly get ready to draw their sword.
For an impromptu guest there is no impromptu host.
What is only expediently appropriate, is never truly appropriate.
If you cannot make avail of the rare and unusual treasure, I will present you the head of a dead cat. Look!

(Notes [Sato]: A man named Benka found a stone in which a gorgeous gem was hidden inside. He presented it to King Rei of So, but the king considered this a malicious joke and cut off one of Benka’s foot tendons as a punishment. The same thing happened with King Bu, and Benka lost the tendon of the other foot. Only in the time of King Bun did they discover that the stone did hide a wonderful gem inside.
Once a snake in the castle of Zui was saved by a man named Shukugenyô. The snake wanted to thank the savior by presenting him a radiant pearl in the darkness. Shukugenyô was terrified and wanted to draw his sword.
The expression “head of a dead cat,” seemingly a symbol for something totally valueless, comes from a dialogue between Master Caoshan and a monk: A monk asked Caoshan, “What is the most precious thing in the world?” Caoshan said, “The head of a dead cat.” The monk asked, “Why is that?” Caoshan, “Because no one can give it a price.”)

Case [boldface = in BCR, not BOS; (italics) = in BOS, not BCR)

Emperor Wu of Liang asked Great Master Bodhidharma, “What is the ultimate (highest) meaning of the holy truth (reality)?”
Bodhidharma said, “Vast and void, no holiness.”
The emperor said, “Who are you facing (in front of) me?”
Bodhidharma said, “I don't know.”
The emperor did not understand (match him). Finally, Bodhidharma crossed the Yangtze River and came to
the Kingdom of Wei.
Later the emperor asked Baozhi about it.
Baozhi said, “Does your Majesty know who that man is?”
The emperor said, “I don't know.” Baozhi said, “He is the Mahasattva Avalokitesvara transmitting the Seal of the Buddha's mind.”
The emperor regretted what had happened and wanted to send an emissary to invite Bodhidharma back.
Baozhi said, “Your Majesty, don't try to send an emissary to fetch him back. Even if all the people in the land were to go after him, he would not return.” (the Shaolin Temple. There he sat for nine years, facing the wall.)

BCR:
T. Cleary and J.C. Cleary, BCR: Emperor Wu of Liang asked the great master Bodhidharma, "What is the highest meaning of the holy truths?" Bodhidharma said, "Empty, without holiness." The Emperor said, "Who is facing me?" Bodhidharma replied, "I don't know." The Emperor did not understand. After this Bodhidharma crossed the Yangtse River and came to the kingdom of Wei. Later the Emperor brought this up to Master Chih and asked him about it. Master Chih asked, "Does your majesty know who this man is?" The Emperor said, "I don't know." Master Chih said, "He is the Mahasattva Avalokitesvara, transmitting the Buddha Mind Seal." The Emperor felt regretful, so he wanted to send an emissary to go invite (Bodhidharma to return). Master Chih told him, "Your majesty, don't say that you will send someone to fetch him back. Even if everyone in the whole country were to go after him, he still wouldn't return."
T. Cleary, Secrets of BCR: The emperor of southern China asked the great master Bodhidharma, “What is the highest meaning of the holy truths?” Bodhidharma said, “Empty, without holiness.” The emperor asked, “Who is facing me?” Bodhidharma replied, “Don’t know.” The emperor did not understand. After this Bodhidharma crossed the river into northern China. Later the emperor brought this up to Master Shi and asked him about it. Master Shi said, “Did Your Majesty recognize that person?” The emperor said, “No.” Master Shi said, “He is the embodiment of compassion, transmitting the seal of the enlightened mind.” Feeling regretful, the emperor wanted to send an ambassador to invite Bodhidharma back. Master Shi told him, “Don’t say you’re going to send someone to fetch him back. Even if everyone in the country went after him, he still wouldn’t return.”
Hinton: Southlands Emperor War-True (a very pious Buddhist in the conventional sense of sutra study and gaining merit through donations to Buddhist institutions) asked the Grand-Master Bodhidharma: "What is the first principle of sage reality?" "Vast-expanse no-sage Absence," replied Bodhidharma. "The who is this facing me here?" "No idea." The emperor couldn't mirror Bodhidharma's mind. So, Bodhidharma crossed the Yangtze and made his way to the kingdom of Origin-Height. Later, the emperor asked Master Remembrance-Treasure about this, and Remembrance-Treasure said: "Now do you know who that was?" "No idea." "It was Avalokitesvara, the World-Gaze bodhisattva, transmitter of Buddha's mind-imprint." The emperor was full of regret, and told someone to go invite Bodhidharma back. But Master Remembrance-Treasure said: "Don't bother. Even if yu send the whole kingdom to plead with him, he'll never come back."
Sekida: Emperor Wu of Liang asked Bodhidharma, “What is the first principle of the holy teachings?” Bodhidharma said, “Emptiness, no holiness.” “Who is this standing before me?” “No knowing.” The emperor did not grasp his meaning. Thereupon Bodhidharma crossed the river and went to the land of Wei. The emperor later spoke of this to Shiko, who said, “Do you in fact know who this person is?” The emperor said, “No knowing.” Shiko said, “This is the Bodhisattva Kannon, the bearer of the Buddha’s Heart Seal.” The emperor was full of regret and wanted to send for Bodhidharma, but Shiko said, “It is no good sending a messsenger to fetch him back. Even if all the people went, he would not turn back.”
Shaw: Attention! The Emperor Wu ofLiang (Ryo) asked the great teacher Bodhidharma (Daruma): What is the first (primal) meaning of Holy Reality? (ie., "The truth which does not increase those desires which cause men to continue in the stream of existence; Truth or Reality as opposed to Illusion. The threee Realities are the Absolute, the Phenomenal and the Assumed." -Shaw) Daruma said: Emptiness, no Sacredness (Holiness). ("In the Void there are no distinctions. Nothing is more or less sacred than anything else. Here one thinks the thought of Non-Thought." -Shaw) The Emperor said: Confronting me, who is this? Daruma said: I do not know. The Emperor did not (reach) accord. Thereupon Daruma crossed the river and reached (the land of) Wei (Gi). The Emperor later raised (the question) and asked Prince Chi (Shi) (Shi-Ko). Shi-Ko said: Sire, do you indeed know this person? The Emperor said: I do not know him. Shi-Ko said: This was the Bodhisattva Kwan-non, bringing the Buddha Heart-Seal. The Emperor was regretful. Thereupon he sent a messenger (who) left earnestly seeking (praying for) him. Shi-Ko said: Do not go (after him). The Emperor may send a messenger to fetch him back, but even if all the people of the land went, that person will never return.
BOS:
Cleary: Emperor Wu of Liang asked Great Teacher Bodhidharma, "What is the highest meaning of the holy truths?" Bodhidharma said, "Empty -- there's no holy." The emperor said, " Who are you facing me?" Bodhidharma said, "Don't know." The emperor didn't understand. Bodhidharma subsequently crossed the Yangtse River, came to Shaolin, and faced a wall for nine years.
Wick: Attention! Emperor Wu of Ryo asked the great master Bodhidharma, "What is the ultimate meaning of the holy truth of Buddhism?" Bodhidharma replied, "Vast emptiness. No holiness." The Emperor asked, "Who stands here before me?" Bodhidharma replied, "I don't know." The Emperor was baffled. Thereafter, Bodhidharma corssed the river, arrived at Shorin and faced the wall for nine years."

Yuanwu's and Wansong's Interjections (Cleary)

Emperor Wu of Liang asked the great master Bodhidharma,
     (Yuanwu: This dull fellow speaks up.)
     (Wansong: Even getting up at the crack of dawn, he never made a profit at the market.)
"What is the highest meaning of the holy truths?"
     (Y: What a donkey-tethering stake this is.)
     (W: For the time being turn to the secondary to ask.)
Bodhidharma said, "Empty, without holiness."
     (Y: Wu considered this answer rather extraordinary. The arrow has flown past Korea. Very clear.)
     (W: Splits his guts and gouges out his heart.)
The Emperor said, "Who is facing me?"
     (Y: Wu is filled with embarrassment, forcing himself to be astute. As it turns out, he gropes without finding.)
     (W: He finds tusks in his nostrils.)
Bodhidharma replied, "I don't know."
     (Y: Bah! His second reply isn't worth half a cent.)
     (W: 'If you see jowls from behind his head...')
The Emperor did not understand.
     (Y: Too bad! Still, he's gotten somewhere.)
     (W: A square peg doesn't fit in a round hole.)
After this Bodhidharma crossed the Yangtse River and came to the kingdom of Wei.
     (Y: This wild fox spirit! He can't avoid embarrassment. He crosses from west to east, he crosses from east to west.)
Later the Emperor brought this up to Master Chih and asked him about it.
     (Y: A poor man thinks about an old debt. The bystander has eye.)
Master Chih asked, "Does your majesty know who this man is?"
     (Y: Wu should chase Master Chih out of the country too; Chih should be given thirty blows. Bodhidharma has come.)
The Emperor said, "I don't know."
     (Y: After all this is Emperor Wu's understanding of Bodhidharma's public case.)
Master Chih said, "He is the Mahasattva Avalokitesvara, transmitting the Buddha Mind Seal. "
     (Y: Chih explains haphazardly. The elbow doesn't bend outwards.)
The Emperor felt regretful, so he wanted to send an emissary to go invite (Bodhidharma to return).
     (Y: After all, Bodhidharma couldn't be held. As I said before, Wu is dull.)
Master Chih told him, "Your majesty, don't say that you will send someone to fetch him back.
     (Y: When someone in the eastern house dies, someone of the western house joins in the mourning. Better they should be all driven out of the country at once.)
Even if everyone in the whole country were to go after him, he still wouldn't return."
     (Y: Again Master Chih deserves thirty blows. He doesn't know that the great illumination shines forth from under his own feet.)
Bodhidharma subsequently crossed the Yangtse River, came to Shaolin, and faced a wall for nine years.
     (W: A house with no surplus goods doesn't prosper.)

Xuedou's Verse

The holy truth – vast and void:
How could you ever discern the clearest point?
“Who are you facing me?”
His answer was, “I don't know.”
Thereupon he secretly crossed the Yangtze River.
How could the growth of thorns and brambles be avoided?
Even if all the people in the land went after him, he would not come back.
He yearns after him in vain for thousands and tens of thousands of years.
Give up yearning for him!
What limit is there to the pure wind circling the earth?
Looking around to the right and to the left, the master (ie, Master Xuedou himself) said,
“Is the patriarch here?”
“Yes,” he answered himself.
“Call him here! I will make him wash this old monk's feet.”

T. Cleary and J.C. Cleary, BCR: The holy truths are empty; /How can you discern the point? /"Who is facing me?" /Again he said, "I don't know." /Henceforth he secretly crossed the river; /How could he avoid the growth of a thicket of brambles? /Though everyone in the whole country goes after him, he will not return; /(Wu) goes on and on vainly reflecting back. /Give up recollection! /What limit is there to the pure wind circling the earth? /The Master Hsueh Tou looked around to the right and left and said, /“Is there any patriarch here?" /He answered himself, “There is." /"Call him here to wash this old monk's feet.”
T. Cleary, Secrets of BCR: The holy truths are empty — how should one discern the point? /Who is in my presence? After all he says he doesn’t know. /Henceforth he crossed the river in the dark, /But how could he avoid making brambles grow? /Even if everyone in the whole country pursued him, he wouldn’t come back; /Throughout the ages, he’s remembered in vain. /Give up remembrance — what end is there to the pure wind circling the earth? /The poet looked around and said, “Is there a Zen master here?” Then he himself said, “There is. Call him to wash my feet.”
Hinton: Sage reality all vast-expanse, how could it ever be clear and evident? /An emperor asks Who is facing me here? He later answers No idea. /And so, Bodhidharma slipped across the river one night, escaping thickets of thorn-bramble. /Even if the whole kingdom were sent, he'd never come, and brooding a thousand, ten thousand forevers is empty. /Just don't brood over it, then clear wind sweeps around this world boundlessly, /and a great master looking out in all directions, wondering if there are any patriarch masters to be found, /you say to yourself: "Yes? Well then, send them here to wash this old monk's feet."
Sekida: The holy teaching? “Emptiness!” /What is the secret here? /Again, “Who stands before me?” /“No knowing!” /Inevitable, the thorns and briars springing up; /Secretly, by night, he crossed the river. /All the people could not bring him back. /Now, so many years gone by, /Still Bodhidharma fills your mind—in vain. /Stop thinking of him! /A gentle breeze pervades the universe. /The master looks around: /“Is the patriarch there? /— Yes! Bring him to me, /And he can wash my feet.”
Shaw: Holy Reality, Emptiness. How can the intent (goal) be discerned? Who is this that confronts me? and he said: I do not know. It was because of this that in the dark he crossed the river. How could the growths of ‘thorns and briars’ (perplexities) be escaped (avoided)? Even if all the people of the land pursued him, he would not come back again. Thousands of ages, ten thousands of ages in vain mutually regret (it). Discontinue these mutual regrets. Cool breezes over the whole universe, what extreme (limit) have they? /The teacher (Set-cho) looked from left to right and said: In the world is there (any) Patriarch (like that)? He himself replied and said: There is. Go and call him. He could wash this old priest’s feet.

Hongzhi's Verse

Vast and void, no holiness –
The practitioner comes, missing the mark by far.
One gains, when one swings one’s axe without hurting the nose,
One loses, when one drops the pot without turning back.
In solitude he sits coolly in the Temple Shôrin,
In silence he manifests the absolute command.
In the clean pure autumn the moon rotates its frosty wheel,
In the pale Milky Way the Dipper’s handle hangs low in the night.
The robe and bowl have been handed down to the descendants in succession,
Since then they have become medicine and disease for humans and heavenly beings.

(Sato's Notes: A man got a fleck of earth on the nose. An axe master swung his axe, and, lo, the fleck was gone and the nose was intact. Once a man named Môshi carried a valuable cooking pot called Sô on his shoulders and let it fall on the ground. He heard the noise, but went further on without turning back.)
Cleary: Empty -- nothing holy: /The approach is far off. /Succeeding, he swings the axe without injuring the nose; /Failing, he drops the pitcher without looking back. /Still and silent, cooly he sat at Shaolin /In silence he completely brought up the true imperative. /The clear moon of autumn turns its frosty disc; /The Milky Way thin, the Dipper hangs down its handle in the night. /In succession the robe and bowl have been imparted to descendants; /From this humans and divinities have made medicine and disease.
Wick: Emptiness, no holiness -- /the questioner's far off. /Gain is to swing the axe and not harm the nose; /loss is to drop the pot and not look back. /In solitude he sits cool at Shorin; /in silence the Right Decree's fully revealed. /The autumn's lucid and the moon's a turning frosty wheel; /the Milky Way's pale, and the Big Dipper's handle hangs low. /In line the robe and bowl handed on to descendents /henceforth are medicine to men and devas.

Yuanwu's Comment

Emperor Wu had put on monk's robes and personally expounded the Light-Emitting Wisdom Scripture; he experienced heavenly flowers falling in profusion and the earth turning to gold. He studied the Path and humbly served the Buddha, issuing orders throughout his realm to build temples and ordain monks, and practicing in accordance with the Teaching. People called him the Buddha Heart Emperor. When Bodhidharma first met Emperor Wu, the Emperor asked, "I have built temples and ordained monks; what merit is there in this?" Bodhidharma said, "There is no merit." He immediately doused the Emperor with dirty water. If you can penetrate this statement, "There is no merit," you can meet Bodhidharma personally. Now tell me, why is there no merit at all in building temples and ordaining monks? Where does the meaning of this lie? When Baozhi said, "This is Mahasattva Avalokitesvara transmitting the Buddha Mind Seal," if Wu had driven him out of the country, this would amounted to something. Tell me, Bodhidharma is Avalokitesvara, Baozhi is Avalokitesvara, but which is the true Avalokitesvara? Since it is Avalokitesvara, why are there two? But why only two? They are legion. Tell me, where is Bodhidharma right now? You've stumbled past him without even realizing it

RDM Shaw's Notes

[The last part of the BCR case -- ie, the part not included in the BOS version] is said not to have been found in Set-cho’s original text, though it is found in En-go’s edition of 1128. That it is a later interpolation is supported by the fact that Prince Shi here mentioned is known to have died in 514, six years before Bodhidharma arrived in China. A scholar like Set-cho must have known about the discrepancy in the dates. It is, however, in accord with the spirit ofthe first part ofthe subject and need not be discarded.
‘Prince Chi.’ There are many legends about this man, whose real name was Ho-Shi. He is said to have been carried off by an eagle and deposited at the door of the Kasuga Shrine in Nara, Japan, where he was picked up and educated. Other legends of the same sort probably mean that his real parents were unknown. He is most famous for his opposition to superstitious forms of Buddhism, and as being the first to use the famous phrase ‘The Seal of the Heart of Buddha.’ He lived to the great age of ninety-seven.
‘Bodhisattva.’ ‘Great Official.’ The Chinese translation of the Indian term.
The' Heart-Seal of Buddha.’ The ideogram for Seal signifies the unchangeable nature, the permanent value of anything. (A sealed document is permanently valid.) It is used to turn the abstract idea of the Heart or Mind into a more concrete expression. At one time it was believed to be some mysterious object or power handed down from generation to generation. But it must be taken as signifying simply the Heart or Mind, and Zen is known as the Buddha Heart Religion because it holds this central doctrine.

Wuzu's Comment (Yuanwu)

If only you can penetrate "empty, without holiness," then you can return home and sit in peace.

Baiyan Shouduan's (1025-72) Comment (Yuanwu)

Ordinarily a single arrow fells a single eagle;
Another arrow is already too many.
bodhidharma goes right back to sit before Few Houses Peak;
O Lord of Liang, speak no more of going to summon him.

Emperor Wu's Eulogy upon Bodhidharma's death (Yuanwu)

Alas! I saw him without seeing him, I met him without meeting him, I encountered him without encountering him; now as before I regret this deeply. If your mind exists, you are stuck in the mundane for eternity; if your mind does not exist, you experience wondrous enlightenment instantly.

Wansong's Comment

I say, leaving aside the highest meaning for the moment, what do you want with the holy truths?
The ancients sometimes came forth, sometimes stayed put, sometimes were silent, sometimes spoke; all were doing buddha-work.

Zhaxi's Verse (Wansong)

Willing to endure the autumn frost
So the deep savor of the teaching will last,
Even though caught alive,
After all his is not lavishly praised.

from Heroic March Scripture (Wansong)

If you create an understanding of holiness, you will succumb to all errors.

Hakuin's Comment

The emperor wonders who this is in his presence. At least that's better than pretending he knows! Bodhidharma got out of there heavy of heart, "stirring up a pure breeze with every step." As for Baozhi, he is a guy who, same as Bodhidharma, makes a show of reaching out to help. Everything, meadows, mountains, and all, is the embodiment of compassion.

Tenkei's Comment

The cosmic void is empty; not a particle can stand in it. There's no such thing as ordinary or holy. The emperor doesn't understand Bodhidharma's answer; he grabs onto the words and merely tries to rationalize: "Aren't you a holy man? You can't tell me there is no ordinary or holy!" Ultimately, Bodhidharma does not know Bodhidharma, the emperor doe not know the emperor. When they meet, they do not know each other. Even Shakyamuni Buddha and Vairochana Buddha do not actually know. Is the Buddha's Heart Seal something that can be transmitted, or is it ungraspable? Grab your nose and find out.

John McCrae's Comment

Even the famous exchange between Bodhidharma and Emperor Wu of the Liang dynasty, a celebrated mismatch that neatly illustrates the difference between the conventional "Chinese marga model" and the Chan "encounter model" of master-disciple exchange, is not recorded for the first time until 758 or shortly thereafter (in an appendix to a text by Shenhui).

Sekida's Notes

Case:
Emperor Wu (502–50), founder of the Liang dynasty in southern China, was one of the early Buddhist emperors of China. He built many temples, translated sutras, and himself gave lectures on Buddhism. He appears again in BCR67.
Bodhidharma came to China in 520. (See GG41.)
Emptiness. The characters used in the original text are kakunen (kaku, empty and boundless as outer space; nen, -ness). Hence, the literal translation would be “emptiness and boundlessness.”
Who is this standing before me? This was prompted by “No holiness.”
No knowing. The original text has fushiki (fu, no; shiki, knowing), which is generally, but inadequately, translated as “I don’t know.”
Shiko (d. 514) was the priest most trusted by the emperor.
Verse:
The holy teaching? “Emptiness!” Setchō always summarizes the gist of the case at the beginning of his verse.
Inevitable, the thorns and briars springing up. Despite himself, Bodhidharma introduced many complications, such as emptiness, no holiness, and no knowing. These were all thorns and briars.
A gentle breeze pervades the universe. Feel this cool breeze and your troubled mind will be pacified.
He can wash my feet. Christ washed his disciples’ feet. What difference is there? When it comes to service, everyone is the servant of others. When it comes to independence, everyone is his own master throughout heaven and earth.

Yamada's Comment

The ultimate meaning of holy reality means the ultimate truth of Buddhism. "Holy reality" is that which transcends both "profane reality" (the truth of the phenomenal world) and "true reality" (the truth of the world of essence). Bodhidharma said, "Vast and void, no holiness." This is the main point of the koan. According to Bodhidharma, "it is like the autumn sky without a cloud, completely clear. No such thing as 'holiness' exists." Thus he is presenting the real fact as "Vast and void, no holiness." The emperor was very surprised. He had been assuming that Bodhidharma before him was a holy man. But Bodhidharma tells him that there is no holiness.

Shaw's Interpretation

The Emperor Wu said to Bodhidharma: If, as you say, all my good works are of no real value, what is the fundamental ideal, the supreme teaching of the Buddha? Bodhidharma replied: The highest ideal is Void of Void, and still deeper Void, in which there are no distinctions, not even distinctions of Sacredness or holiness and ordinariness.
The Emperor did not understand this, so he said: Who then are you who says this to me? Bodhidharma refused to be drawn into any discussion about his own personality, so he replied: I do not know. This conversation did not touch any sympathetic chord in the Emperor’s mind. Bodhidharma perceived this and immediately left the Emperor’s land, crossed the River Yangtse and took up his abode in the land of Gi.
Later the Emperor asked Prince Shi about him. The Prince said: Do you not know who this person is? The Emperor said: No. I do not know who he is. Prince Shi said: That was the Bodhisattva Kwan-non (Avalokitesvara) who came to us for the purpose of handing on to us the Heart-Seal ofthe Buddha. When the Emperor heard this, he was filled with regret and sent off a messenger earnestly seeking to persuade the Great Teacher to come back. But Prince Shi said: It is of no use to send for him. Even if all the people of this land were to go and try to bring him back, a man like him will never return.

Yasutani's Verse (Wick)

Holy reality, emptiness
The man, unknowing.
Spring breeze and autumn moon speak heavenly truth.
Reverent monks building temples to no merit.
Emperor Wu, how could you know the willows' new green?

Wick's Comment

What's this vast emptiness? What is this "I don't know"? What does empty mean? It doesn't mean blackness or nihilism or nothingness, and it isn't the emptiness we complain about when we say "I feel empty." Everything is impermanent; nothing is fixed. One's own form is empty of any fixed thing. Realizing this emptiness, experiencing it directly, is one of the most important aspects of our practice. There is no fixed thing that is the self -- nothing to grasp onto, no firm ground upon which to stand, no right understanding to attain. As soon as you think you've grabbed "it," you have lost "it." Realizing "it" directly, tremendous freedom is manifest. When Bodhidharma left the emperor, he spent nine years facing a wall. What was he doing for those nine years? If you understand this koan, you can answer without hesitation.

Rothenberg's Verse

The Highest Truths

Bodhidharma secretly crosses the river.
You already know what's on the far side.

When you see smoke, you know there is fire.
When you see horns, you know there's an ox.

"Hmm, the dimwit decides to speak up.
Bah! What he says is not work a cent.
He won't lose the wild fox spirit!"

Cross from west to east, and then east to west.
Let no one know which side you're on.

Inside one phrase you will see through to many.
It takes just one arrow to fell one eagle,
even one more will be more than you need.

Enough already, I'm clear to the other side. I ask:
"What end is there to the pure wind, circling the earth?"
Forget the target, up there in the heights of the truth.
That is one place where emptiness will never find you.

Tova's Verse

Bodhidharma's "Emptiness"

Bodhidharma!
We sit with you,
facing a wall.
The years go by.
Nothing holy,
only heart-felt effort.
All beings
throughout the world
in water or on land
rejoice.

Sturmer's Verse

One giant silverfish
eats through the ancestral library.
His royal highness turns
pages in his sleep --
transparent pages
sparkling with dust motes.
But in the end he fails to find
a single word.

Hotetsu's Verse

The deep meaning of the holy truth is that there is no holy truth.
Therefore, not knowing pervades everywhere
Like a mountain mist, like a speck of mud on a trouser leg --
Like a sincere and pious prayer.

Story BCR1/BOS2