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
42. The Woman Comes Out of
Samadhi
The World-honored One: long ago,
because Manjusri arrived at the gathering place of all the Buddhas, at the time
all the Buddhas had each gone back to their original place. [MM 54] Only one woman was present close
to the Buddha’s seat entered into samadhi.
Manjusri then said to the pure
Buddha, “Why is the woman able to be close to the Buddha’s seat , while on the
other hand I am not able to?”
Buddha told Manjusri, “You only
should cause this woman to awaken from samadhi and get up, then you personally
can ask her.”
Manjusri went around the
woman three times, chirped (snapped) his fingers once, and next then lifted her
up with his palm to the Heaven of
Purity. He exhausted his spiritual
powers and still he was not able to get
her out.
The World-honored One said,
"If a hundred thousand Manjusris
were employed, they also could not get this woman out of samadhi. Down below, in a place passing through whole
territorial realms
as many as the grains of sand of twelve
hundred million rivers
there is present the bodhisattva Wangming (Deceptive-brilliance) who can get
this woman up from samadhi.”
In an instant Great-being Wangming surged up from the ground and put
forth his proprieties paying respect to the World Honored One. The World Honored One admonished Wangming to
go to the woman and chirp (snap) his fingers once. Next the woman got up from that samadhi.
Wumen says: Old Mr. Śākya was a
person who made a whole act of a motley drama. The small few did not
penetrate. [MM 55] Just say, Manjusri is the teacher of seven Buddhas,
what was the reason he was not able to get the woman up from samadhi? Wangming was a bodhisattva at the first
ground, still how was his action able to get her up? If within you are able to see intimately, in the hustle and
bustle of working consciousness is a nāga’s (dragon being) great
samadhi.
The Ode says:
Able to bring forth, not able to bring forth.
In a ditch, you are able to by yourself.
A god’s head and a devil’s face,
In defeat and deficiency be distinguished and accomplished.
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This page last edited September 08, 2007.