From Wu-men Kwan, Case #6; Indian Buddhism
Long ago on Gradhrakuta Mountain, Buddha sat down in order to give a Dharma talk before a vast assembly of followers. After sitting for an extended period of time in silence, he held up a flower. Everyone was silent. Only Mahakashyapa smiled.
At that moment Buddha said, "I have the all-pervading true Dharma, incomparable Nirvana,
exquisite teaching of formless form. It is not dependent on words, a special transmission outside the sutras and I, now, give it to Mahakashyapa."
Questions
1. Why did Mahakashyapa smile?
2. Why did Buddha pick up the flower?
3. What kind of Dharma transmission was given to Mahakashyapa?
4. If you were Mahakashyapa, how would you respond to Buddha's speech?
5. If you were Buddha and no one smiled, what would you have done?
6. What is the correct kind of transmission for Buddha to give to Mahakashyapa?
7. If you were Buddha and everyone smiled, what would you have done?
Wu-men's Comment
Goldjaced Gautama insolently degrades noble people to commoners. He sells dog flesh under the sign of mutton and thinks it is quite commendable. Suppose that all the monks had smiled-how would the eye treasury have bee; transmitted? Or suppose that Mahakashyapa had not smiled-how could he have been entrusted with it? If you say the eye treasury can be transmitted, that would be as if the goldjaced old fellow were swindling people in a loud voice at the town gate. If you say the eye treasury cannot be transmitted, then why did the Buddha say that h entrusted it to Mahakashyapa?
Wu-men's Verse
Twirling a flower,
the snake shows its tail.
Mahakashyapa breaks into a smile,
and people and devas are confounded.
Zen Master Seung Sahn's Commentary
The flower smiles; the Buddha's face is red.
Dedication
I dedicate this collection of kong-ans to my late teacher Seung Sahn
Dae Soen Sa Nim, who tirelessly and selflessly spread the Dharma throughout
the Western world. His inspiration and dedication lives on in my heart and it is my
fervent hope that you might find the flowering of your own self nature through the
study of these dialogs set forth by the ancient Teachers of the East.
