- IV. FROM THE CHINESE ZEN MASTERS
- VII GENSHA ON THE: THREE INVALIDS
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VII GENSHA ON THE: THREE
INVALIDS1
Preliminary Remark
When gates and courts are established, then there are twos, there are
threes, there is a realm of multiplicities; when a deep discourse is carried on
on the highest subjects of intuition a world of sevens and eights is thoroughly
broken through. In whatever ways views and opinions may be presented, they are
crushed to pieces so that the barricades even when they are of golden chains
are successfully brushed aside. When orders are given from the highest
quarters, all traces are wiped off, leaving nothing whereby trailing is made possible.
When do we come across such a koan? Let one who has an eye on the
forehead see to it.2
1. Hsuan-sha, 835-908. The
following is a literal translation of Case LXXXVIII of the Pi-yen Chi,
which is one of the most important and at the same time the most popular of Zen
texts. The words in brackets in the "Illustrative Case" and in
Seccho's verse are those of Yengo. As to the nature and composition of the
Pi-yen Chi, see my Zen Essays, Series II, p. 237 et seq.
2. The Remark purposes to make the
reader abandon his usual relative point of view so that he can reach the
absolute ground of all things.
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