Linji's Three Blows from Huangbo

Text

Linji was studying under Huangbo. The head monk urged him, "You have been here three years and have never asked the master a question. Why not ask what the fundamental principle of Buddhism is?" Linji went to Huangbo and asked. Before he could finish, Huangbo struck him. Linji returned to the head monk and told him what happened. The head monk said, "Go ask again." Linji went again and was struck again. He went a third time and was struck a third time. Linji went to Huangbo and said, "I must leave. I have asked the master three times and been struck three times. Perhaps my karma does not allow me to understand." Huangbo said, "Go see Dayu." Linji went to Dayu and told him everything. Dayu said, "That old grandmotherly Huangbo—he was trying to help you! He exhausted himself for your sake, and you come here asking whether you were at fault!" At these words Linji was greatly awakened and said, "There isn't so much to Huangbo's Buddhism after all!" Dayu grabbed him and said, "You bed-wetting little devil! You just said you didn't understand, and now you say there isn't so much to it. What do you see? Speak!" Linji punched Dayu three times in the ribs. Dayu pushed him away and said, "Your teacher is Huangbo—it's nothing to do with me."

license: public_domain

Attribution

• Respondent
  Dayu Shouzhi
• Respondent
  Huangbo Xiyun
• Speaker
  Linji Yixuan

Lineage: Linji

By Linji Yixuan

• When You Meet a Swordsmanproverb
• The True Person of No Ranksermon
• Linji's Four Shoutssermon
• If You Meet the Buddha, Kill the Buddhasaying
• Be the Master Wherever You Aresaying

From Record of Linji

• When You Meet a Swordsman
• The True Person of No Rank
• Linji's Four Shouts
• If You Meet the Buddha, Kill the Buddha
• The True Person of No Rank
• Kill the Buddha, Kill the Patriarchs
• Followers of the Way

Sources

• contentWikisource — English-language free library

  Record of Linji, Account of Pilgrimages

  Record of Linji: Linji's Three Blows from Huangbo