[f142] Kung-an is a question or theme given to the student for solution. It literally means “public document,” and, according to a Zen scholar, it is so called because it serves as such in testing the genuineness of enlightenment a student claims to have attained. The term has been in use since the early days of Zen Buddhism in the T‘ang dynasty. The so-called “cases” or “dialogues” (mondo) are generally used as kō-ans. A special chapter devoted to the subject will be found in the second series of The Essays.
[f143] I cannot tell how early this “Sesshin” originated in the history of the Zendo. It is not in Hyakujo’s Regulations, and did not start in China but in Japan probably after Hakuin. The Sojourn period generally being a “stay at home” season, the monks do not travel, but practise “Sesshin” and devote themselves to the study of Zen; but in the week specially set up as such, the study is pursued with the utmost vigour.
[f144] That is, ti-ch‘ang. Tei means “to carry in hand,” “to show forth,” or “manifest,” and sho “to recite.” Thus by a Teisho the old master is revived before the congregation and his discourses are more or less vividly presented to view. It is not merely explaining or commenting on the text.
[f145] Dharaṇī is a Sanskrit term which comes from the root dhṛi, meaning “to hold.” In Buddhist phraseology, it is a collection, sometimes short, sometimes long, of exclamatory sentences which are not translated into other languages. It is not therefore at all intelligible when it is read by the monks as it is done in the Chinese and Japanese monasteries. But it is supposed to “hold” in it in some mysterious way something that is most meritorious and has the power to keep evil ones away. Later, dharanis and mantrams have grown confused with one another.
[f146] The founder of Tenryuji, Kyoto. He is known as “Teacher of Seven Emperors.” 1274–1361.
[f147] San-ch‘an literally means “to attend or study Zen.” As it is popularly used now in Japan, it has, besides its general meaning, the special one as is referred to in the text.
[f148] Formerly, this was an open affair, and all the mondos (askings and answerings) took place before the whole congregation, as is stated in the Regulations of Hyakujo. But, later, undesirable results followed, such as mere formalism, imitations, and other empty nonsenses. In modern Zen, therefore, all sanzen is private, except on formal occasions.
[f149] While thus going around, he came to a house where an old woman refused to give him any rice; he however kept on standing in front of it, looking as if nothing were said to him. His mind was so intensely concentrated on the subject which concerned him most at the time. The woman got angry, because she thought he was altogether ignoring her and trying to have his own way. She struck him with a big broom with which she was sweeping and told him to depart right at once. The heavy broom smashed his large monkish hat and knocked him down on the ground. He was lying there for a while, and when he came to sense again, everything became to him clear and transparent.
[f150] As to the life of his teacher, Daito, reference was made to it elsewhere.
[f151] The wind is probably one of the best imageries to get us into the idea of non-attachment or Śūnyatā philosophy. The New Testament has at least one allusion to it when it says, “The wind bloweth as it listeth,” and here we see the Chinese mystics making use of the wind to depict his inner consciousness of absolute identity, which is also the Buddhist notion of the void. Now compare the following passage from Echkart: Darum ruft die Braue auch weiter: “Weiche von mir, mein Geliebter, weiche von mir”: “Alles, was irgend der Darstellung fähig ist, das halte ich nicht für Gott. Und so fliehe ich vor Gott, Gottes wegen!”—‘Ei, wo ist dann der Seele Bleiben?’—“Auf den Fittichen der Winde!” (Büttner, Meister Eckeharts Schriften und Predigten, Erster Band, p. 189.) “So flieche ich vor Gott, Gottes wegen,” reminds us of a Zen master who said, “I hate even to hear the name of the Buddha.” From the Zen point of view, “Gottes wegen,” may better be left out.