Teisho presented by Arno Hess on 24/05/2025 at the sixth day of the 2025 Pathway Zen Sesshin at Bodhi Chan Meditation Centre, Springwood, QLD, Australia.
Introduction
Ungo does not rely upon the holy ashes of a person who has faithfully followed the
Precepts;
Kyûhô does not appreciate expiring while sitting or standing,
Gozu does not need hundreds of birds to bring him flowers,
Ôbaku does not envy putting a cup upon the river and gliding across it.
Tell me, what are their special merits?
Case
Kyûhô served Sekisô as his attendant. After Sekisô’s passing, the assembly wanted to
make their head monk the abbot of the temple. Kyûhô would not acknowledge him. He said,
“Wait till I examine him. If he understands our late master’s spirit and intention, I will serve
him as I served our late master.”
So he asked the head monk, “Our late master said,
‘Totally ceased;
Totally extinguished;
(Becoming a cool land of desolation;)
Fostering one thought for ten thousand years;
Becoming cold ash and a withered tree;
(Becoming a fragrant censer in the ancient shrine;)
Becoming a vertical stripe of white silk.’
Tell me, what sort of matter did he clarify with this?” The head monk said, “He clarified the
matter of the One Color.” Ho said, “If so, you have not yet understood our late master’s spirit.”
The head monk said, “Don’t you acknowledge me? Pass me incense.” He lit the incense and
said, “If I had not understood our late master’s spirit, I would not be able to pass away while
the smoke of this incense rises.” No sooner had he said this than he expired while sitting in
zazen. Kyûhô caressed his back and said, “Dying while sitting or standing is not impossible.
But you could not even dream of our late master’s spirit.
Verse
The school of Sekisô was intimately transmitted to Kyûhô.
Expiring in the fragrant smoke does not lead to the authentic stream.
The crane in the moon-lit nest creates a dream of one thousand years,
While the man in the snowy hut is deluded by the merit of the One Color.
Cutting off all ten directions through sitting is still a miserable failure;
Truly moving one step forward would witness soaring dragons.
