Case 44 Bashõ's Staff
Bashõ Osho said to his disciples, "If you have a staff, I will give you a staff.
If you have no staff, I will take it from you."
Mumon's Comment
It helps me wade across a river when the bridge is down. It accompanies me to the village on a moonless night.
If you call it a staff, you will enter hell like an arrow.
Mumon's Verse
The depths and shallows of the world
Are all in its grasp.
It supports the heaven and sustains the earth.
Everywhere, it enhances the doctrine.
These koans are becoming short. They are the final tests of this course called the Mumonkan or Gateless Gate. Are you still thinking? By now you should have had enough time in samadhi that your dharma eye is open and you can see into these koans. What is the staffless staff? If you need to call it a staff then the dharma eye is closed. Why call it anything at all but still you understand it supports you and the whole Universe.
Case 44 Bashõ's Staff 四十四 芭蕉拄杖
芭蕉和尚示衆云、你有拄杖子、我興你 拄杖子。
Bashõ Osho said to his disciples, "If you have a staff, I will give you a staff.
你 無拄杖子、我奪你 拄杖子。
If you have no staff, I will take it from you."
Mumon's Comment
無門曰、扶過斷橋水、伴歸無月村。
It helps me wade across a river when the bridge is down. It accompanies me to the village on a moonless night.
若喚作拄杖、入地獄如箭。
If you call it a staff, you will enter hell like an arrow.
Mumon's Verse 頌曰
諸方深與淺 The depths and shallows of the world
都在掌握中 Are all in its grasp.
□天□拄地 It supports the heaven and sustains the earth.
隨處振宗風 Everywhere, it enhances the doctrine.
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