The case in Juhn Ahn’s translation goes:
“Baizhang revisited Mazu for a consultation. Mazu raised his fly whisk. The master [i.e., Baizhang] asked, “Is this its function or beyond its function?” Mazu hung his whisk back in its old spot. The master [remained speechless] for a while. Mazu said, “Later when you open your lips how will you instruct others?” The master thereupon snatched the whisk and raised it. Mazu said, “Is this its function or beyond its function?” The master also hung the whisk back up. Mazu immediately gave out a shout. The master thus became deaf for three days and he thereupon had a great awakening.”
We don’t actually use this case in the Harada Yasutani curriculum. The encounter dialogue that we work thoroughly is “Baizhang’s Wild Duck” in case fifty-three of the Blue Cliff. This is another awakening story, apparently originally collected in Tiansheng guangdeng lu (The Expanded Lamp Record Compiled in the Tiansheng) and anthologized in the Japanese koan collection Entangling Vines as case One hundred, eighty-two.
Of course within formal koan introspection practice it is pretty easy to track.
Baizhang asks for instruction about the great matter. Mazu raises his whisk. A presentation of the whole, and among the standard devices for that direct pointing in the family with slapping the ground, or one’s thigh, or holding up a finger, or, as we go on, a shout.
The response is silence. But, what silence is it? Is it the great silence of the most intimate meeting? Is it the silence of stalling until he thinks of something to say? Is it the silence of pure cluelessness?
So Master Mazu probes his student’s understanding of the action, and he asks how he will go about instructing others.
To which young Baizhang imitates his teacher. Of course the question then becomes is it imitation or is it his own presentation? How pure is this pure presentation?
And so, another gentle probe. Function or not? Action or silence?
And Baizhang gives an interesting reply. He hangs the whisk up. I like it. But, probably he is still hovering in the doorway.
So, Mazu brings it home.
The shout is another pure presenation.
Just this.
The words fail.
But in failing they point.
Like the whisk.
Like the shout.
Just this.
And because this is a fairy story, with his ears ringing and unable to do anything else, he stumbles through the doorway and Baizhang wakes up.
So, for me, this case does a couple of things. First, it is a delightful picture of a mature student and a careful teacher. More importantly it shows that we always need to be engaged, open to correction.
They say the way is one continues mistake.
True. No doubt. But here I find it is also a great dance.
Lead when you should. Follow when it is appropriate. Hold on lightly, and go for it all.
Rest a bit.
Start over…
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In