"Longya's Thief in an Empty Room" from Eihei Dogen's 300 Koan Shobogenzo

The Main Case - A monastic asked Zen master Judan of Longya (Zhankong), "When do the teachers of old get stuck?" Longya said, "When the thief slips into an empty room."

Capping verse - When the mind is empty, the eyes are finally clear. Shining through detachment and subtlety--the root of creation.


Just to avoid any confusion or misunderstanding between you, the reader, and myself, the writer, I’ll make it clear right off the bat: for me, ideas, concepts, and theory are not methods for acquiring objective knowledge but rather catalysts for subjective experience of life; my life; anyone's life. While I admit I’m not averse to being able to posit a thesis that many can agree on, what’s more important to me is to instigate reflection. Similar to the manner in which a koan operates, activating consciousness of premises, assumptions, and prejudices in a dialectic process leading to the emptiness of knowing, so I hope to illuminate my subjects, not by shedding light on them, but by casting shadows, tracing their forms in darkness, in silhouette relief, to know them only by inference, by what they are not. My tools? Arbitrarily constructed in language and consciously divided for the sake of an intellectual pursuit: my mind (reason and awareness), my body (instinct and corporeality), and my spirit (presence and desire).

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Koan - Finishing the noodles

Stepping boldly, the student approached the teacher, who was sitting and eating noodles.
“I would like to learn from you how to dance,” said the student.
“I can teach you nothing,” said the teacher, slurping his noodles loudly.
“But surely there is some wisdom I can gain from you,” insisted the student.
The teacher stood up and walked out of the room, calling behind as he left, “You can begin by finishing the noodles.”


Don’t ask for what you already know from someone who has no system for letting you know. They only possess a method of their own devising that may someday allow you to realize this one truth. Your own reflection in the mirror will teach you more than a master can in 51 years. It’s all a matter of give and take.


Move what you see.
Speak how you feel.
Present who you imagine.



(Special thanks to Oguri-san)
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