Mumonkan: Case 2

The Blue Cliff Record, also known as the Book of Serenity, is a collection of Zen koans, or paradoxical stories and anecdotes, that have been used for centuries by Zen practitioners to cultivate insight and deepen their understanding of the nature of reality. Case 2 of the Blue Cliff Record, known as "Hyakujo's Fox," is a particularly poignant and powerful koan that challenges us to question our assumptions about ourselves and the world around us.

The case goes as follows:

Hyakujo, a Zen master, once gave a lecture to his students, in which he said: "The true Dharma is not expressed in words or letters. It is a special transmission outside the scriptures. It does not depend on words or letters. A special transmission, it has its own unique way of transmitting."

One of the students, a monk named Tokusan, asked Hyakujo: "If it doesn't depend on words or letters, how can it be transmitted?"

Hyakujo replied: "I have a special transmission outside the scriptures and not dependent on words or letters. Do you understand?"

Tokusan replied: "No, I don't."

Hyakujo then said: "The bell rings at midnight. Go and meditate on it."

After the lecture, Tokusan asked another monk what Hyakujo meant by the bell ringing at midnight. The monk replied: "The sound of the bell is in the bell. What do you understand?"

Tokusan thought about this for a while and eventually had a moment of insight. He then went to Hyakujo and told him: "I understand that the sound of the bell is in the bell."

Hyakujo replied: "You have only heard the sound of the bell, but you have not yet seen its meaning."

Later that day, Tokusan was walking in the woods when he saw a fox running by. He asked the fox: "What is the meaning of Hyakujo's lecture?" The fox replied: "The snow is falling thick and fast."

Upon hearing this, Tokusan was suddenly enlightened.

The meaning of this koan is not immediately apparent, and its power lies in its ability to challenge our assumptions and force us to question our preconceptions. At first glance, it appears to be a simple story about a monk who has a moment of insight after asking a fox for guidance. However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that there are deeper layers of meaning at play.

One interpretation of this koan is that it is a commentary on the limitations of language and conceptual thought. Hyakujo's lecture emphasizes the fact that the true Dharma cannot be expressed in words or letters, and yet Tokusan is still trying to understand it through language. The fox's response, "The snow is falling thick and fast," is similarly non-conceptual, and yet it seems to contain the essence of the Dharma that Tokusan has been seeking.

Another interpretation is that the fox itself is a symbol of the Dharma. In Japanese folklore, foxes are often associated with trickery and deception, but they are also seen as mystical beings with the power to grant wishes and bring good fortune. By asking the fox for guidance, Tokusan is acknowledging that the true Dharma cannot be found through conventional means, but must be approached with a sense of playfulness and curiosity.

Ultimately, the meaning of this koan is left open to interpretation, and each person who contemplates it will likely come away with their own unique insight. What is clear, however, is that the power of the koan lies in its ability to challenge us to look beyond our assumptions and see the world with fresh eyes. By cultivating a sense of openness and curiosity, we can begin to glimpse the infinite depth and beauty of the universe.