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The Gateless Gate

collection of koans and comments by Mumon

Thursday, March 1, 2007

Tozan's Three Pounds

A monk asked Tozan when he was weighing some flax: `What is Buddha?'

Tozan said: `This flax weighs three pounds.'

Mumon's Comment: Old Tozan's Zen is like a clam. The minute the shell opens you see the whole inside. However, I want to ask you: Do you see the real Tozan?

Three pounds of flax in front of your nose,
Close enough, and mind is still closer.
Whoever talks about affirmation and negation
Lives in the right and wrong region.

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Mumon

Mumon

Chapters

  • ▼  2007 (32)
    • ▼  March (32)
      • A Philosopher Asks Buddha
      • Joshu's Dog
      • Hyakujo's Fox
      • Gutei's Finger
      • A Beardless Foreigner
      • Kyogen Mounts the Tree
      • Buddha Twirls a Flower
      • Joshu Washes the Bowl
      • Keichu's Wheel
      • A Buddha Before History
      • Seizei Alone and Poor
      • Joshu Examines a Monk in Meditation
      • Zuigan Calls His Own Master
      • Tokusan Holds His Bowl
      • Nansen Cuts the Cat in Two
      • Tozan's Three Blows
      • Bells and Robes
      • The Three Calls of the Emperor's Teacher
      • Tozan's Three Pounds
      • Everyday Life is the Path
      • The Enlightened Man
      • Dried Dung
      • Kashapa's Preaching Sign
      • Do Not Think Good, Do Not Think Not-Good
      • Without Words, Without Silence
      • Preaching from the Third Seat
      • Two Monks Rolls Up the Screen
      • It is Not Mind, It is Not Buddha, It is Not Things
      • Blow Out the Candle
      • Not the Wind, Not the Flag
      • This Mind is Buddha
      • Joshu Investigates
 

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