This Mind Is Not Buddha

Text

A monk asked Baso: "What is Buddha?" Baso said: "This mind is not Buddha." Mumon’s comment: If anyone understands this, he is a graduate of Zen. If you meet a fencing-master on the road, you may give him your sword, If you meet a poet, you may offer him your poem. When you meet others, say only a part of what you intend. Never give the whole thing at once.

tr. Nyogen Senzaki, Paul Reps, 1934

license: public_domain

Attribution

• Speaker
  Mazu Daoyi
• Commentator
  Wumen Huikai

Lineage: Nanyue line

By Mazu Daoyi

• This Mind Is Buddhakoan
• This Very Mind Is Buddhadialogue
• Sun-Face Buddha, Moon-Face Buddhadialogue
• Drink Up the Yangtze Riverdialogue
• Not Mind, Not Buddhadialogue

From Mumonkan

• Every Season Is a Good Season
• Preface to the Gateless Barrier
• The Wild Fox Koan
• 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

Sources

• contentMumonkan (Gateless Barrier) — Senzaki & Reps translation, 1934

  Nyogen Senzaki, Paul Reps (trans.)

  Case 33, Mumonkan

  Mumonkan case 33: This Mind Is Not Buddha