Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 56 – Zen Master Kinzan «One Arrow Piercing the Three Barriers»

The Case

Ryo Zenkaku asked zen master Kinzan, "What about when one arrow pierces the three barriers?" Kinzan said, "Bring out the master of the barriers and let me see him." Ryo said, "If that is the case, recognizing my fault, I will withdraw." Kinzan said, "How long will you keep me waiting?" Ryo said, "A good arrow! But it has achieved nothing."

And he was about to leave. Kinzan said, "Wait a bit. Just come here." Ryo turned his head. Kinzan took hold of him and said, "Leaving aside for a moment the arrow that breaks through the three barriers-just shoot an arrow at me!" Ryo hesitated. Kinzan gave him seven blows and said, "I should let you go on puzzling over this for thirty years."

Engo's Introduction

No Buddha has ever come into the world; no Law has ever been handed down. Bodhidharma did not come to China; no transmission from mind to mind took place. People of today do not understand the truth but seek after it out in the external world. They do not know that even the thousand holy ones cannot discover the great cause that lies at each person's feet. Now, at this moment, how does it happen that while seeing, you do not see; hearing, you do not hear; speaking, you do not speak; and knowing, you do not know? If you have not yet understood this, study it in an old koan.

Verse

I'd take out the master of the barriers for you! Be mindful, you who loose the arrow. If you stick to the eyes, the ears are deafened. If you discard the ears, the eyes are blinded. How I like the arrow piercing the barriers. The arrow's path is clearly seen! Don't you recall, Gensha once said, the man of might is master of the mind, prior to heaven.