Teisho presented by Arno Hess on 20/07/2025 at the Pathway Zen Zenkai at Spring Hill, QLD, Australia.
Case
Bodhidharma sat facing the wall. The second patriarch, standing in the snow, cut off his arm
and said, “Your disciple’s mind is not yet at peace. I beg you, Master, put it to rest.”
Bodhidharma said, “Bring your mind to me and I will give it rest.” The patriarch said, “I have
searched for the mind but have never been able to find it.” Bodhidharma said, “I have
finished putting it to rest for you.”
Mumon’s Commentary
The broken-toothed old barbarian came thousands of miles across the sea with an active
spirit. It can rightly be said that he raised waves where there was no wind. In later life he
obtained one disciple, but even he was crippled in his six senses. Ha! The fools do not even
know four characters.
Verse
Coming from the West and pointing directly to it –
All the trouble comes from the transmission;
The one who disturbs the monasteries
Is originally you.
