| born: c. 780 died: c. 850 place: China |
| Chan master: Yaoshan (J. Yakusan) Chan disciples: none recorded |
Li Ao was not a formal Chan disciple in
Yaoshan's monastery, but was a local
government official who came to see the master
from time to time. He is mentioned numerous
times in Zen stories, and is even listed on the
15,000 Zen Master lineage chart as a Zen
master.
Yaoshan's monastery, but was a local
government official who came to see the master
from time to time. He is mentioned numerous
times in Zen stories, and is even listed on the
15,000 Zen Master lineage chart as a Zen
master.
| oshobob The Living Workshop |
| Zen Masters |
Li Ao
Jap., Riko
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| A great philosophical official, Riko, once asked the strange Zen master, Nansen, to explain to him the old koan of the goose in the bottle. "If a man puts a gosling into a bottle," said Riko, "and feeds him until he is full-grown, how can the man get the goose out without killing it or breaking the bottle?" Nansen gave a great clap with his hands and shouted, "Riko!" "Yes, Master," said the official with a start. "See," said Nansen, "the goose is out!" It is only a question of seeing, it is only a question of becoming alert, awake, it is only a question of waking up. The goose is in the bottle if you are in a dream; the goose has never been in the bottle if you are awake. And in the dream there is no way to take the goose out of the bottle. Either the goose will die or the bottle will have to be broken, and both alternatives are not allowed: neither has the bottle to be broken nor has the goose to be killed. Now, a fully-grown goose in a small bottle...how can you take it out? This is called a koan... --Osho The Goose is Out, ch. 1 |