The Gateless Checkpoint of the Zen Lineage

Chan Zong Wumen Guan (J. Mumonkan)

禅宗無門關

By Wumen Huikai (1183-1260, J. Mumon Ekai)

Translated by Gregory Wonderwheel © 2007

4. Mr. Barbarian Without a Beard

[MM 14]

Huoan said, "Mr. Barbarian from the Western Heaven, why do you have no beard?"

Wumen Says: Meeting must be real meeting, awakening must be real awakening. (Alt. Meeting the beard is real meeting, realizing the beard is real realization.) Those who would encounter the barbarian son must see his beard intimately first hand one time and only then they get it. But, if you speak about being intimate, you have already become two.

The Ode Says:

Before the face of a foolish person

You shouldn’t tell your dream,

“Mr. Barbarian is beardless”

Is mouthing wakefulness.

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This page last edited September 08, 2007.