禅Masters

Doushuai Congyue

Linji

Doushuai Congyue

c. 1044 – c. 1091

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Doushuai Congyue was a Linji school master of the Song dynasty known for his "Three Barriers of Doushuai," a set of testing questions that became important koan material. Like Huanglong Huinan's three barriers, Doushuai's questions were designed to probe the depth and authenticity of a student's realization.

The Three Barriers of Doushuai are: "Brushing aside the grasses and probing for the truth—you see your own nature. Right now, where is your nature?" "When you have realized your own nature, you are free from birth and death. When you are dying, how will you be free?" "When you have freed yourself from birth and death, you know where to go. After your body has been cremated, where will you go?" These questions, moving from the moment of realization to the test of death to the mystery beyond death, form a progressive deepening that has challenged practitioners for centuries.

Names

dharma · enDoushuai Congyue
alias · enTosotsu Jûetsu
alias · enTou-shuai Ts'ung-yüeh

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Students

Teachings

  • koanThree Gates Of Tosotsu

    Mumonkan Case 47

    Tosotsu built three barriers and made the monks pass through them. The first barrier is studying Zen. In studying Zen the aim is to see one's own true nature. Now where is your true nature? Secondly, when one realizes his own true nature he will be free from birth and death. Now when you shut the light from your eyes and become a corpse, how can you free yourself? Thirdly, if you free yourself from birth and death, you should know where you are. Now your body separates into the four elements. Where are you? Mumon’s comment: Whoever can pass these three barriers will be a master wherever he stands. Whatever happens about him he will turn into Zen. Otherwise he will be living on poor food and not even enough of that to satisfy himself. An instant realization sees endless time. Endless time is as one moment. When one comprehends the endless moment He realizes the person who is seeing it.

    tr. Nyogen Senzaki, Paul Reps, 1934

    Commentator: Wumen Huikai, Speaker: Doushuai Congyue

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