{"id":11607,"date":"2023-02-27T09:03:14","date_gmt":"2023-02-27T15:03:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/?p=11607"},"modified":"2023-02-27T09:03:14","modified_gmt":"2023-02-27T15:03:14","slug":"learn-zen-from-this-old-woman-iron-grindstones-old-cow-from-the-record-of-going-easy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2023\/02\/learn-zen-from-this-old-woman-iron-grindstones-old-cow-from-the-record-of-going-easy.html","title":{"rendered":"Learn Zen From This Old Woman: Iron Grindstone\u2019s Old Cow From The Record of Going Easy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>
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We\u2019re deep into winter here at the Neyaashi Zen Hermitage. Intense cold and clarity follow the big storm that swept through much of the country last week, and we\u2019re looking at forecasts for more snow this week. What better time for the Iron Grindstone?!<\/span><\/div>\n
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Iron Grindstone Li\u00fa (9th century) was a successor of the great Gu\u012bsh\u0101n. One morning, she met her teacher \u2026 and we\u2019re still talking about what unfolded today. The incident became a k\u014dan that is included in the <\/span>Blue Cliff Record<\/span>, <\/span>The Record of Going Easy<\/span>, and <\/span>The Record of Empty Hall<\/span>. Below you\u2019ll find my fresh-off-the-translation block version from <\/span>The Record of Going Easy<\/span> (better known as <\/span>The Book of Serenity, <\/span>J. <\/span>Sh\u014dy\u014droku<\/span>), Case 60: Iron Grindstone\u2019s Old Cow.<\/span><\/div>\n
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The introduction, capping phrases (J. <\/span>jakugo<\/span>), and verse highlight the strongly pro-woman stance of H\u00f3ngzh\u00ec (1091-1157), W\u00e0ns\u014dng (1166\u20131246), and many in the Zen tradition, as well as the delightful play between teacher and student, both of whom rest here in the profundity of mature practice. The verse, especially, expresses the subtle and delicious mood of advanced Zen training, oh, so very well.<\/span><\/div>\n
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As with all the cases in <\/span>The Record of Going Easy<\/span>, the great C\u00e1od\u00f2ng master, W\u00e0ns\u014dng, featured in <\/span>Going Through the Mystery\u2019s One Hundred Questions<\/span><\/a>, wrote the introduction, indicated by the phrase, \u201cPresenting to the assembly, saying\u2026.\u201d Cleary sometime translates this phrase as \u201cPointer.\u201d And although there is a sense that the introduction is pointing to some teaching that is about to come, it is also the presentation itself. In other words, it isn\u2019t just an appetizer, but the whole tamale.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Following the introduction, \u201cPresenting to the assembly, saying,\u201d you\u2019ll find the old case with capping phrases, again by W\u00e0ns\u014dng. The capping phrases are indented and italicized. Finally, there is a verse written by the great C\u00e1od\u00f2ng master, H\u00f3ngzh\u00ec, who also gathered the one hundred cases. W\u00e0ns\u014dng\u2019s capping phrases for each line of verse are again indented and italicized.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Click here<\/a> to support my Zen teaching practice at Patreon of which translations and writings like this are one facet. You will also find an advertisement free version of this post there.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n
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The Record of Going Easy<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Case 60: Iron Grindstone\u2019s Old Cow<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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Presenting to the assembly, saying<\/span>:<\/span><\/div>\n
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Nose held high, with excellent character, stepping firm and true. Be ready to learn Zen from this old woman. Be seen through and obtain the unattainable opportunity. Only then will you have met a true master of the Way. Yet say, who exactly is this person?<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u8209<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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Iron Grindstone Li\u00fa went to Gu\u012bsh\u0101n.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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We\u2019ve already met.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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Shan said, \u201dOld cow, you\u2019ve come!\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Brushing away wasps, throwing off the scorpions.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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Grindstone said, \u201dThere\u2019s going to be a great assembly at T\u00e1ish\u0101n, will you go too?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Like poison gas from a smokey fire.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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Gu\u012bsh\u0101n \u00a0lay down.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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On the way, he frees himself.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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Grindstone went out.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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With one push, she changes direction.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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Verse<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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Outstanding victories in a hundred battles, now experiencing great peace<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Living calmly, working happily<\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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Easygoing, who would be willing to struggle for power?<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Forgiving people is not stupid<\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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All day long, the jade whip and the golden war horse are idle<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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As if they were absent<\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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Throughout one\u2019s life, the cool breeze and bright moon are abundant <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Receive and use them \u2013 they cannot be used up<\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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\n<\/div>\n
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\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

D\u014dsh\u014d Port began practicing Zen in 1977 and now co-teaches with his wife, Tetsugan Zummach Sensei, with Vine of Obstacles Zen<\/a>, an online training group. D\u014dsh\u014d received dharma<\/a> transmission from Dainin Katagiri R\u014dshi and inka sh\u014dmei from James My\u014dun Ford R\u014dshi in the Harada-Yasutani lineage. He is also the author of Keep Me In Your Heart a While: The Haunting Zen of Dainin Katagiri<\/a><\/i>. D\u014dsh\u014d\u2019s translation and commentary on The Record of Empty Hall: One Hundred Classic Koans,<\/em><\/a> was published in 2021 (Shambhala). His\u00a0third book, Going Through the Mystery\u2019s One Hundred Questions<\/em><\/a>, is now available. Click here<\/a> to support the teaching practice of D\u014dsh\u014d R\u014dshi.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We\u2019re deep into winter here at the Neyaashi Zen Hermitage. Intense cold and clarity follow the big storm that swept through much of the country last week, and we\u2019re looking at forecasts for more snow this week. What better time for the Iron Grindstone?! Iron Grindstone Li\u00fa (9th century) was a successor of the great […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":182,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[492,498,495,501],"class_list":["post-11607","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-iron-grindstone","tag-record-of-going-easy","tag-shoyoroku","tag-women-zen"],"yoast_head":"\nLearn Zen From This Old Woman: Iron Grindstone\u2019s Old Cow From The Record of Going Easy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We're deep into winter here at the Neyaashi Zen Hermitage. 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