Thanks, Ed.
Well, that's a challenge.
I have not been much of a koan-worker. And this story about Hyakujo
(Pai-chang) and the fox is indeed Case No. 2 of the Wu-Men Kuan (Mumonkan),
pretty fundaamental in the koan-curriculum.
Aitken Roshi writes that CONCEPTS of karma and essential nature can be wildly
mistaken. Of that I have no doubt.
We can ask: Why did the earlier Pai-Chang's answer consign the hearer to 500
lifetimes as a fox, and the recent Pai-Chang's answer result in liberation?
In the second part (Act Two!), Huang-po reputedly slaps his teacher, and his
teacher, Pai-chang laughs, claps his hands, and essentially gives assent to
Huang-po, and likens him to Bodhidharma. Huang-po went on to become, and to
be, a great teacher, and successor of Pai-chang.
But this is mostly history; I doubt it answers your question!
So... but... Aitken writes, again:
"You understand the story of Pai-chang and the fox to the degree that you
understand yourself".
I'll keep out of this!
;-)
--Joe
> "ED" <seacrofter001@...> wrote:
>
> Joe,
>
> Can you provide an answer that is not Zen-speak?
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