禅Yuanwu Keqin

proverb

Pivot Word

Song

Traditionally attributed

Text

There is a pivot word at the heart of every koan. Find it, and the rest of the case turns easily. Miss it, and the case becomes a stone in your pocket.

tr. Zen Lineage editorial

license: cc_by

Attribution

Lineage: Linji

By Yuanwu Keqin

Sources

  • contentThe Blue Cliff Record — R.D.M. Shaw translation, 1961

    R.D.M. Shaw (trans.)

No per-field confidence has been recorded for this teaching yet. Treat individual claims with the caution appropriate to the source list below.

Attribution status: traditional — see editorial policy for what this means.

1 supporting citation on record (see Sources above).

Spot something wrong? Report an issue — please include a source so we can verify the correction.