Zen Koan – Cookies of Zen – No. 10 – Sound and Color

A student came to the Great Venerable Zen Master Pop-An (Fa-Yen Wen-I 885 - 958) and asked, "How should I understand color and sound?" Venerable master said, "Here, good Monk, why don't you introspect yourself about who is asking now?" Later Zen master Ja-Soo sang a verse for this:

Sound and color are merely two words. The monk didn't realize those sands in his eyes. Playing the jade flute in the yellow crane gazebo. In the town near the river, the plum blossoms falling in May.

The truth of this Koan is distant from any terms, easy or difficult. Therefore, it is neither difficult nor easy. Truly, the faithful student who has the bright eye can notice what it is.

Jade flute? What kind of jade flute? Plum blossom? What kind of plum blossom?

If one can distinguish the jade flute and the plum blossom, then tell me now. If one is capable of distinguishing, then I will comment with an ancient sage's verse:

Truly fortunate is a blind tortoise who accidentally found a board floating in the ocean, or a mustard seed which was pierced through by a tiny needle dropped from Heaven, he would be the final winner of Tao.

Venerable Master Responded

If someone asked me this Koan, I would answer:

Before even clouds are gathered in the southern mountain, rain poured down in the northern mountain.