#zhaozhou

[allyouknowisalie]

A monk asked Zhaozhou, “‘The Ultimate Path has no difficulties—just avoid picking and choosing’—isn’t this a cliché for people of these times?” Zhaozhou said, “Once someone asked me, and I really couldn’t explain for five years."

Fifty-Eight Case from the Blue Cliff Record

[allyouknowisalie]

Nan Quan came to speak to the monks. The master asked, "Bright or dark?" Nan Quan returned to his room. The master left the hall and said, "At one question of mine that old priest was forced into silence and could not answer." The head monk said, "Don't say that he was silent. It is only that you didn't understand." The master struck him and said, "Actually, this blow should have been given to that old fool Nan Quan himself."

Recorded Sayings of Zhao Zhou Case 2

[allyouknowisalie]

> A monk asked, "What is ignorance?" Joshu said, "Why don't you ask about enlightenment?" The monk said, "What is enlightenment?" Joshu said, "It is the very same thing as ignorance." > A monk asked, "What is the fact of the 'handing on of the robe'?" The master said, "Don't deceive yourself." The recorded sayings of Zhao Zhou

[allyouknowisalie]

佛之一字，吾不喜聞。 “The single word ‘Buddha’—I do not even like to hear it.” — Zhaozhou

[allyouknowisalie]

問：「如何是和尚家風？」 師云：「內無一物，外無所求。」 A monk asked, "What is your 'family custom'?" The master said, "Having nothing inside, seeking for nothing outside."

Zhaozhou

[allyouknowisalie]

A monk asked, “I have come a long way, please instruct me.” Zhaozhou said, “You have only just entered my door. Is it proper that I spit in your face?”

Not entitled to an opinion? : r/zen

[allyouknowisalie]

In the course of his travels, Zhaozhou studied with Linji. He met Linji as he was washing his feet, and asked him, “What is the meaning of the Patriarch coming from the west?” Linji said, “Right now it so happens I am washing my feet.” Zhaozhou approached Linji and made a gesture of listening. Linji said, “You’re demanding to be splashed with a second ladleful of dirty water.” Zhaozhou then left.

Zhaozhou (778 - 897) meets Linji (? - 866), from The Recorded Sayings of Linji, translated by J. C. Cleary (p. 52).

[allyouknowisalie]

A monk asked, "The one who has entered 'the realm of truth,' does he still know existence?" Joshu said, "Who has entered 'the realm of truth'?" The monk said, "If that is so, then the one who has entered 'the realm of truth' does not know how to leave it." Joshu said, "It is not cold ashes. It is not a dead tree. It is a hundred flowers in colorful bloom." The monk said, "So this, then, is the state of having entered into 'the realm of truth'?" Joshu said, "There is no connection at all."

Zhauzhou