Zen Koan & Mysticism – Mumonkan – Case No. 12 – Zen Master Zuigan Calls His Master

The Case

Zen master Zuigan called to himself every day, "Master!" and answered, "Yes, sir!" Then he would say, "Be wide awake!" and answer, "Yes, sir! "Henceforward, never be deceived by others!" "No, I won't!"

Mumon's Comment

Old Zuigan buys and sells himself He takes out a lot of god-masks and devil-masks and puts them on and plays with them. What for, eh? One calling and the other answering; one wide awake, the other saying he will never be deceived. If you stick to any of them, you will be a failure. If you imitate Zuigan, you will play the fox.

Verse

Clinging to the deluded way of consciousness, students of the Way do not realize truth. The seed of birth and death through endless eons: The fool calls it the true original self.