The Wild Fox Koan

Text

Every time Baizhang gave a talk, an old man would attend and listen. One day the old man stayed behind and said, "I am not a human being. In the time of Kashyapa Buddha I was the head monk on this mountain. A student asked me, 'Does a person of great cultivation fall under the law of cause and effect, or not?' I answered, 'Such a person does not fall under cause and effect.' For this I was reborn as a wild fox for five hundred lifetimes. I beg you, Master, give me a turning word so that I may be released." Baizhang said, "Such a person does not evade cause and effect." At these words the old man was greatly enlightened.

license: public_domain

Attribution

• Speaker
  Baizhang Huaihai

Lineage: Nanyue line

By Baizhang Huaihai

• Hyakujo's Foxkoan
• Baizhang's Water Bottledialogue
• A Day Without Work Is a Day Without Eatingsaying
• A Day Without Workproverb
• The Pure Ruleproverb

From Mumonkan

• Every Season Is a Good Season
• Preface to the Gateless Barrier
• Joshu's DogCase 1
• Hyakujo's FoxCase 2
• Gutei's FingerCase 3
• A Beardless ForeignerCase 4
• Kyogen Mounts the TreeCase 5
• Buddha Twirls a FlowerCase 6
• Joshu Washes the BowlCase 7
• Keichu's WheelCase 8

Sources

• contentWikisource — English-language free library

  Mumonkan, Case 2

  Mumonkan: The Wild Fox Koan