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

47. Doushuai's Three Checkpoints

[MM 59]

Venerable Doushuai Yue established three checkpoint questions for students:

Pushing aside the grass and visiting the obscure is simply a plan to see your nature; now quickly, at what place is the nature of the superior person?

Awareness of one’s own nature is a method to be freed from birth and death; when the light of the eye declines with time, how do you get freed from birth?

To get liberation from birth and death is thus to be aware of the place you will go; when the four great (elements) separate and you depart, what direction and place will you go?

Wumen says: If you can be able to issue these three turning words then you can continue to accord with the established place and if you run into a master you immediately draw near to the lineage. If this is maybe not yet so, with rude dining it is easy to eat one’s fill, with minute bites it is difficult and one is starving.

The Ode says:

One thought moment observes all measureless kalpas,

The business of measureless kalpas is immediately the now of thusness,

Thus now, the now of thusness, now witness each single thought moment laid bare,

Witness the now of thusness laid bare, witness the basic person.

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This page last edited September 08, 2007.