A Nun Walks Around Chu-chih

Staying for a prolonged period in a mountain hermitage, Chu-chih was approached one rainy night by a nun wearing robes and a broad rain hat, and carrying a large carved staff indicative of a Zen wanderer.

She walked around Chu-chih's meditation seat three times and challenged him to speak before she would take off her hat. When he failed to respond, she offered to stay the night, but only if he gave an answer.

Failing again, Chu-chih felt inadequate and vowed to go on a pilgrimage to study the Dharma, but that night a spirit told him in a dream that a bodhisattva was to appear. The next day, Tien-lung arrived and taught him the One Finger method.

Commentary

The nun's name is thought to be Shih-chi, a woman who lived around 800 C.E. If you had been in Chu-chih's place, how could you have responded to the nun's challenge?

Source: Opening A Mountain: Koans of the Zen Masters, by Steven Heine

Photo by z rahen