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12-08-2015, 01:54 AM
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Newbie ;)
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 18
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koan, ? any answers...
thank you for reading, i found this one
confused me for the monk made it a dicothomic problem seeming something
must be done, but my thought is 'put sandals on my head' if i were the man choping on a tree branch. rather i liked the story about
the strawberry plant better. that one was sweet.
who has an answer for this?
thanks
Diijin
* * *
KYOGEN said to his pupils: "Zen is a man hanging from a tree over
a cliff. He is holding on to a twig with his teeth. His hands hold
no branch. His feet find no branch. Up on the cliff-edge a man
shouts at him: 'Why did Bodhidharma come from India into China?'
"If he fails to answer he is lost. If he answers, he dies. What
must he do?"
* * *
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12-08-2015, 03:48 AM
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Ascender
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 843
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He must save himself first.
__________________
"The power of now"
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12-08-2015, 07:17 AM
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Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Currently on Earth.
Posts: 761
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Ask for another koan...
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12-08-2015, 07:34 AM
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Diijin
thank you for reading, i found this one
confused me for the monk made it a dicothomic problem seeming something
must be done, but my thought is 'put sandals on my head' if i were the man choping on a tree branch. rather i liked the story about
the strawberry plant better. that one was sweet.
who has an answer for this?
thanks
Diijin
* * *
KYOGEN said to his pupils: "Zen is a man hanging from a tree over
a cliff. He is holding on to a twig with his teeth. His hands hold
no branch. His feet find no branch. Up on the cliff-edge a man
shouts at him: 'Why did Bodhidharma come from India into China?'
"If he fails to answer he is lost. If he answers, he dies. What
must he do?"
* * *
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Not answering a fool is the correct answer. Why would someone ask a question when they see you close to death instead of helping you  |
12-08-2015, 08:07 AM
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Diijin
thank you for reading, i found this one
confused me for the monk made it a dicothomic problem seeming something
must be done, but my thought is 'put sandals on my head' if i were the man choping on a tree branch. rather i liked the story about
the strawberry plant better. that one was sweet.
who has an answer for this?
thanks
Diijin
* * *
KYOGEN said to his pupils: "Zen is a man hanging from a tree over
a cliff. He is holding on to a twig with his teeth. His hands hold
no branch. His feet find no branch. Up on the cliff-edge a man
shouts at him: 'Why did Bodhidharma come from India into China?'
"If he fails to answer he is lost. If he answers, he dies. What
must he do?"
* * *
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A koan doesn't look for an "answer", rather a statement of understanding. Each person's statement is an expression of their understanding of the meaning of the Koan. And while another's statement of understanding might lead you to understanding too, repeating their statement is probably more likely to be wrong than right. Also, if your answer is artificial, or comes from book knowledge rather than actual understanding (or is an answer considered as lacking, whatever that means), then traditionally in a zen monastery, the master would probe further to get a seed of genuine understanding, or dismiss the student's statement of expression as something contrived or read in sutras. It is best to study Zen until you have your own personal expression and traditionally, students have someone with experience to challenge that expression (although this, as always isn't necessary).
An example would be: "He doesn't have to open his mouth or move a single muscle to answer. Why would he die?" (not saying that this is a good expression of understanding. But it demonstrates that different practitioners will glean different aspects from the story).
-TaoSandwich
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12-08-2015, 09:05 AM
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Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Southwest, USA
Posts: 25,401
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Diijin
"If he fails to answer he is lost. If he answers, he dies. What
must he do?"
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Since there is no death, and one is never lost...he should smile
letting go of the twig.
__________________
.*I'll text in Navy Blue when I'm speaking as a Mod. :)
Prepare yourself for the coming astral journey of death by daily riding in the balloon of God-perception.
Through delusion you are perceiving yourself as a bundle of flesh and bones, which at best is a nest of troubles.
Meditate unceasingly, that you may quickly behold yourself as the Infinite Essence, free from every form of misery. ~Paramahansa's Guru's Guru.
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12-08-2015, 12:58 PM
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Master
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,468
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Diijin
* * *
KYOGEN said to his pupils: "Zen is a man hanging from a tree over
a cliff. He is holding on to a twig with his teeth. His hands hold
no branch. His feet find no branch. Up on the cliff-edge a man
shouts at him: 'Why did Bodhidharma come from India into China?'
"If he fails to answer he is lost. If he answers, he dies. What
must he do?"
* * *
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It's not always wise to answer a question. |
12-08-2015, 01:02 PM
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Serrao
It's not always wise to answer a question.
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Especially when its wrong  |
12-08-2015, 01:08 PM
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Master
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,468
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I'm also thinking about:
Dependency on others can be (spiritually) lethal.
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12-08-2015, 02:15 PM
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Ascender
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 779
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He must answer to save himself. For to answer is the ultimate acceptance of the truth. the truth that he going to die. Each moment he fails to answer and instead struggles to hold on is a rejection of his reality. The only way for this man to be saved is to realize truth. Which will cause his death.
__________________
A heart without intention is a heart without tension.
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