Yanguan Qi'an
Jap., Enkan Seian
Yanguan (district of old Hangzhou) Complete Peace
| born: 750 died: 842 92 years place: China |
Surname: Li
| stories: Osho Zen: The Quantum Leap from Mind to No-mind, ch. 4 Zen: The Solitary Bird, Cuckoo of the Forest, ch. 8 |
| oshobob The Living Workshop |
| Zen Masters |
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| Ryuge was asked by a monk, "What is the meaning of Bodhidharma coming from the West?" Ryuge said, "Wait till the stone turtle speaks words of explanation and I will tell you." The monk said, "The stone turtle has spoken!" Ryuge said, "What did it say to you?" The monk was silent. One of Daibai's monks asked his master the same question, to which Daibai replied, "His coming has no meaning." The monk brought this question up to Enkan, who said, "Two dead men in one coffin." Gensha, hearing of this, said, "Enkan is a clever chap." It does not happen anywhere: two dead men in one coffin. He is saying by this statement that you are putting two dead men in one coffin: you are putting this significance, the tremendous beauty, the grace, into one coffin with Bodhidharma. But Bodhidharma is after all a coffin just as you are, just as I am. Inside, there can be only one, not two. Enkan's meaning is a little difficult to understand but he is saying, "Don't put contradictory things together. Mind and meaning? What has mind to do with meaning? And what has Bodhidharma to do with coming?" Even without Bodhidharma, dhyan was going to blossom. It is just coincidental that Bodhidharma was being used by existence to bring the message... --Osho Zen: The Quantum Leap From Mind to No-Mind, ch. 4 |