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Main Case Edit

Zen master Qinghuo of Baofu Monastery was studying with Shuilong. One day Master Shuilong asked him, "Which teachers have you seen? And did you experience enlightenment?"(1)

Baofu said, "I once visited Dazhang Qiru and attained certainty."(2)

Shuilong then went up to the dharma hall, called the assembly together, and said, "Reverend Baofu, come out, face the assembly, burn incense, and speak about your point of attainment. This old monastic will verify it for you."(3)

Baofu took up the incense and said, "The incense has already been offered.(4) Enlightenment is no other than no-enlightenment."(5)

Shuilong was delighted and approved him.(6)

Notes Edit

This is sure to raise a stink of Zen that even the spring's fragrance will not be able to cover. Although he has climbed out of the cesspool, he doesn't seem to notice that he is still covered with shit. It would be impossible for a master of our school not to act on this. What is he saying? Although this is so, it is nonetheless misleading. He seems to know too much. Too bad. Bah! They are both covered in mud, and now the whole assembly has been dragged into it.

Zen practitioners these days inevitably misunderstand this koan and as a result, end up making a nest in the secondary. Haven't you heard Yangshan's saying, "It's not that there is no enlightenment, but how can we deal with falling into the secondary?"

Although Shuilong rejoices and approves Baofu, what is he approving? You should understand that when the ten thousand things fully come home to the self, the last vestige of enlightenment vanishes. It is this traceless enlightenment that ceaselessly unfolds. But before you can step off the top of a hundred-foot pole, you must first ascend the pole.

Capping Verse Edit

The truth of the universe is intimately perfect

and inconceivably subtle.

How can it be soken of in terms

of delusion and enlightenment?

Appearances Edit