Learning Is Not The Path

Text

Nansen said: "Mind is not Buddha. Learning is not the path." Mumon’s comment: Nansen was getting old and forgot to be ashamed. He spoke out with bad breath and exposed the scandal of his own home. However, there are few who appreciate his kindness. When the sky is clear the sun appears, When the earth is parched rain will fall. He opened his heart fully and spoke out, But it was useless to talk to pigs and fish.

tr. Nyogen Senzaki, Paul Reps, 1934

license: public_domain

Attribution

• Speaker
  Nanquan Puyuan
• Commentator
  Wumen Huikai

Lineage: Nanyue line

By Nanquan Puyuan

• Nansen Cuts the Cat in Twokoan
• It Is Not Mind, It Is Not Buddha, It Is Not Thingskoan
• Ordinary Mind Is the Waydialogue
• Nanquan Kills the Catdialogue
• A Flower in a Dreamdialogue

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 34, Mumonkan

  Mumonkan case 34: Learning Is Not The Path