Zen Women

Chiao-an Awakens

Chiao-an was the niece of a high official of the Sung dynasty. When she was young, she set her heart on the way of Ch’an; she decided early on not to marry or bear children.

She experienced clear awakening at the words of Yüan-wu as he spoke to the assembly.

Yüan-wu said to her, “You should go on to erase your views—then you will finally be free.”

She answered in verse,

The pillar pulls out the bone sideways;
The void shows its claws and fangs;
Even if one profoundly understands,
There is still sand in the eye.

Commentary
This story originated in the Song Dynasty, not the Tang, but I include it in this collection for two reasons. First, Yuan-wu was the author/compiler of the Blue Cliff Record, an important collection of kong-ans. Second, Chiao-an's poem is remarkably sharp and thus worthy of wider recognition.

Photo by Brad Swick

An Old Woman Stays with Chao-chou

There was an old woman who came into the temple at nightfall.

The master [Chao-chou] said, “What are you doing?”

The old woman said, “I’ve come to stay overnight.”

The master said, “What place is this place?”

The old woman laughed heartily and left.

Commentary
The old woman had designs on Chao-chou but Chao-chou couldn’t be had.

This is yet another story in which Chao-chou's interaction with a woman contains sexual innuendo.

Source: The Recorded Sayings of Zen Master Joshu, translated by James Green
Photo by Russell Harrison

Old Women's Talk

In the Dharma Hall, Master Yün-men said:

“I will be candid with you; I know someone when I meet him. But in spite of such old women’s talk you fail to understand. You gorge yourselves every day, and after your meals you prowl up and down. What kind of vessel are you looking for? You pack of wild foxes! What the hell are you doing here?”

The Master chased all the monks at once out with his staff.

“. . .What is it that you call ‘buddha’ and ‘patriarch’? What is it that you call mountain, river, the earth, sun, moon, and stars? And what do you regard as the four elements and the five components?”

“When I talk this way, I call it ‘talk by a granny from a three-house hamlet.’ If I’d happen to come across a real pilgrim and he’d hear me talk like this, he couldn’t be reproached if he grabbed me by my leg and threw
me down the steps.”

Having entered the Dharma Hall for a formal instruction, Master Yün-men said:

“I cannot help giving medicine to the dead horse. I’m telling you: ‘What is it?’ Is it east or west, north or south, being or not-being, seeing or hearing, up there beyond or down her below, so or not-so?”

“This is called ‘boondock granny talk.’ But how many of you have reached this realm? Whether you’re in accordance with it or not: may it come about in a quiet place!”

With this, the Master left the hall.

Commentary
There is no record of Yün-men teaching or encountering women. 

But although these three stories don’t feature women as actors, they do convey the high regard in which Yün-men held the wisdom of older women. In fact, he equates his own speech with that of small-town grandmothers.

Grandmothers shower young children with kind words, candy, and unwavering love. Ch’an masters frequently refer to “grandmotherly kindness” and sometimes describe the “compassion of a grandmother’s heart.” Those who live near a grandmother in a three-house hamlet may feel especially fortunate as a result of the many blessings the granny bestows upon them.

Source:  Master Yunmen by Urs App
Photo by Francois Bester

Chao-chou Gets Burned

A nun asked Zen Master Chao-chou, "Setting aside explanations given until now, please instruct me."

The master shouted, "Burn an iron bottle to ashes!"

The nun then went and poured the water out of an iron bottle and brought it to the master saying, "Please answer."

The master laughed at this.

Commentary
The nun put out the fire.

Source: The Recorded Sayings of Zen Master Joshu, translated by James Green
Photo by Jasonb42882