Zen Koan – Hekiganroku – No. 81 – Zen Master Yakusan «King of the King Deer»

The Case

A monk said to zen master Yakusan, "On the grassy plain there is a herd of deer, with the king deer among them. How could one shoot the great king of the king deer?" Yakusan said, "Watch the arrow!" The monk threw himself on the Boor. Yakusan called his attendant and said, "Boy! Take this dead fellow away!" The monk ran away. Yakusan said, "There is no end to these people who play with mud pies."

[Setcho says in a comment here, "For three steps he might be alive, but he would not survive five."]

Engo's Introduction

When he seizes the opponent's banners and captures the enemy's drums, even the thousand holy ones cannot hold him. When he cuts through the complications, even a battle- hardened veteran cannot touch him. This is not due to his using occult powers, nor to his returning to the absolute itself. Tell me, how can he attain such wonderful ability?

Vers

The king of the king deer: watch him! One arrow, and he ran three steps; Five steps, and he might drive a tiger. The hunter had a true eye, you know. Now Setcho cries, "Watch the arrow!"