Teaching the Japanese Monk

Text

When the Japanese monk Enni Ben'en came to study with Wuzhun Shifan at Jingshan, Wuzhun asked him, "What did you come here to seek?" Enni said, "The Dharma of the patriarchs." Wuzhun said, "The Dharma of the patriarchs is already in Japan—why did you cross the sea?" Enni said, "I came to verify what I already have." Wuzhun said, "A good answer. Now let us see if what you have is genuine."

license: public_domain

Attribution

• Speaker
  Wuzhun Shifan

Lineage: Yangqi line

By Wuzhun Shifan

• The Gate of Jingshansaying
• The Meaning of Practicedialogue

From Wudenghuiyuan

• The Way of the Patriarchs
• On Silent Illumination
• Instructions for Zazen
• The Gate of Jingshan
• Spring Comes, Grass Grows Naturally
• The Vast Empty Sky

Sources

• contentZen Editorial Overlay - Originals Curation

  Zen project editorial

  Wudenghuiyuan, Vol. 20, Wuzhun Shifan chapter; Enni Ben'en hagiography

  Wudenghuiyuan: Teaching the Japanese Monk