An introduction to Zen Buddhism

THEKOAN

withphilosophy;Zenhasitsownreasonforstandingforitself,

andthisfactmustneverbelostsightof;otherwise,theentire

structureofZenfallsto pieces. The"cypress-tree"is forever

acypress-treeandhasnothingtodowithpantheismoranyother

"ism".Joshuwasnot aphilosopherevenin itsbroadestand

mostpopularsense;hewasaZenmasterthroughandthrough,

andallthatcomesforthfromhislipsisanutterancedirectly

ensuingfromhisspiritualexperience.Therefore,apartfromthis

muchof"subjectivism",thoughreallytherearenosuchdualities

in Zen as subject and object, thought and the world, the

"cypress-tree"utterlylosesitssignificance.Ifitisanintellectual

orconceptualstatement,wemayendeavourtounderstandits

meaningthroughtheratiocinativechainofideasascontained

init,andwemaycometoimaginethatwehavefinallysolvedthe

difficulty;butZenmasterswillassureyouthateventhenZen

isyet threethousandmilesawayfrom you,and thespiritof

Joshuwillbeheardlaughingatyoufrom behindthescreen,

whichafterallyouhadfailedtoremove.Thekoanisintended

tobenourishedinthoserecessesofthemindwherenological

analysis can ever reach.When themind matures so that it

becomesattunedtoasimilarframetothatofJoshu,themeaning

ofthe "cypress-tree" will reveal itself, and without further

questioningyouwillbeconvincedthatyounowknowitall.

AdiscipleofJoshucalledKaku-tetsu-shi(ChuehT'ieh-tzu)

wasaskedafterthedeathofhismasterwhetherhehadreally

madethestatementaboutthecypress-tree inresponseto the

question,"Whatis theftmdamental principleofBuddhism?"

Thediscipleunhesitatinglydeclared,"Mymasternevermade

thatstatement."Thiswasadirectcontradictionofthefact,for

everybodythenknewthatJoshuhadmadeit,andtheonewho

askedKaku-tetsu-shi aboutit washimselfnot ignorant ofit.
HisquestioningwastoseewhatinsightthisdiscipleofJoshuhad
intothemeaningofthestoryofthecypress-tree.Therefore,the
questionerfurtherpursuedTetsubysaying,"Butthisisasserted

by ever)'body, and how can you deny it?" Tetsu insisted,

"Mymasterneversaidit;andyouwilldowellifyoudonotthus

disparagehim,"Whatanaudaciousstatement!Butthosethat

knowZen knowthat this flat denialis theirrevocableproof

thatTetsuthoroughlyunderstood thespiritofhismaster.His