The Fireplace Records Case #58
Mt. Adams Emerges in the West
"Master Yellow-Bitterroot Mountain asked me,
'What is the meaning of Old Pahto emerging in the West?'
I lifted my cane and placed it in my mouth, saying nothing.
Later, zany Zen liar that I am, I wrote:
"No minds, no dharmas. No-mind, much Dharma."
Zen Koans: The Fireplace Records
Koans by Mike Garofalo
Subject Index to 1,975 Zen Buddhist Koans
Meetings with Master Chang San-Feng
Mount Adams, Old Pahto, Washington
The Fireplace Records Case #57
Shifu Miao Zhang Takes a Walk
Toju Zenchu brandished his staff before Daoist
Shifu Miao Zhang and challenged him "Miao
Zhang, speak and you get whacked with Nanten's
staff. Do not speak and you still get whacked with
Nanten's staff." Shifu Zhang stood up quickly,
lifted his cane strongly in defense, and quietly
said, "Yunmen's shit stick stinks and Nanten's
staff is cracked! I am leaving now to take my
evening walk. Goodbye."
Zen Koans: The Fireplace Records
Koans by Mike Garofalo
Subject Index to 1,975 Zen Buddhist Koans
The Fireplace Records Case #56
Cutting Through the Wind
Mayoku walked around his old Daoist friend,
Shifu Miao Zhang, three times and then thumped
his staff on the ground. Miao Zhang stood up,
walked around Mayoku once, tapped his cane three
times on the wall, and said "The power of the wind
can topple trees and is gone by morning. My cane
can cut through the wind."
Zen Koans: The Fireplace Records
Koans by Mike Garofalo
Subject Index to 1,975 Zen Buddhist Koans
