Zen Women

Yu Nudges Yuan-wu

Just as Yüan-wu approached the teaching seat on the day he began to teach at Chia-shan, Yü bounded forth from the assembly.

She gave him a nudge with her body and went back into the crowd.

Yüan-wu said, “When you see the strangeness as not strange, the strangeness disappears of itself.”

The next day Yüan-wu went to her house. She shouted, “Such a yellow-mouthed little boy—and you say you’re a teacher?”

Yüan-wu said, “Don’t brag so much, lady. I’ve recognized you.”

Then she laughed and came out to meet him.

Commentary
This story from an Sung Dynasty teacher falls outside the time period of the most of the other stories this blog. But its charm argues for its inclusion. Beginning in the Sung Dynasty, women Zen practitioners gain
greater prominence in the records and more of them are named. In part this is due to the greater emphasis on record-keeping during this period. During the “Golden Age” of Zen in the T’ang Dynasty, record-keeping was hit-and-miss and official "records" were sometimes created long after a teacher’s death.

Source: The Roaring Stream, edited by Nelson Foster and Jack Shoemaker
Photo by foundphotoslj

An Anonymous Bhiksuni

When an anonymous bhiksuni wanted to give a formal Ch’an lecture, the monk T’an-kung said to her, “A bhiksuni, as a woman, should not give a Ch’an teaching.”

The bhiksuni said, “What do you have to say about the eight-year-old Dragon Girl becoming a Buddha?”

“The Dragon Girl can do eighteen kinds of transformations. Can you just make one transformation for this old monk?”

“Even if one can transform oneself, one is nothing but a wild-fox spirit.” said the bhiksuni.

T’an-kung then kicked her out.

Commentary
T'an-kung killed her with the first kick.

Source:  Transmission of the Lamp, translated by Shi Tao-Yuan
Photo by Mrs. W

Off to Somewhere

The Master [Lin-chi] went to see Feng-lin. On the way, he met an old woman.

"Off somewhere?" she asked.

"Off to Feng-lin," the Master said.

"I think you'll find that Feng-lin isn't in right now," the old woman said.

"Off somewhere?" said the Master.

The old woman walked away.

The Master called after her. She turned her head, whereupon the Master walked away.

Commentary
How often are we "off somewhere?" Lin-chi returned from his journey just in the nick of time.

Source: Zen Teachings of Master Lin-chi, translated by Burton Watson
Photo by Tim Samoff

The Iron Grinder Turns

Tzu Hu studied under Nan Ch'uan. He was a fellow student of Chao-chou and Tiger Ts'en [Ch'ang Sha]. At that time, Iron Grinder Liu had set up a hut on Mt. Keui. People from all over couldn't cope with her.

One day Tzu Hu came proudly to call on her. He asked, "You're Iron Grinder Liu, aren't you?"

The Grinder said, "I don't presume to say so."

Tzu Hu said, "Do you turn to the left or turn to the right?"

The Grinder said, "Don't tip over, Teacher."

Hu struck her while her words were still in the air.

Commentary
Hseuh Tou comments, in part:

Turning to the left, turning to the right, following up behind;

You still can't let yourself go. Reflections upon reflections, echoes upon echoes. I strike!

Tzu Hu had to hit Iron Grindstone Liu.

I'd break the staff and no longer carry out this order. He draws his bow after the thief has gone, so I strike. Danger!

Source: Blue Cliff Record, translated by Thomas Cleary and J.C. Cleary
Photo by Old Onliner

Iron Grinder Liu Visits Kuei Shan

Iron Grinder Liu arrived at Kuei Shan's place. Kuei Shan said, "Old cow, so you've come?"

The Grinder said, "Tomorrow there's a great communal feast on T'ai Shan. Are you going to go, Teacher?"

Kuei Shan relaxed his body and lay down.

The Grinder immediately left.

Commentary
Iron Grinder Liu’s name is thought to have been Liu Tiemo. Some translations refer to her as “Grinder,” others use the name, “Grindstone.”

Hsüeh Tou [the compiler of The Blue Cliff Record] comments: “The nun ‘Iron Grindstone’ Liu was like a stone-struck spark, like a lightening flash; hesitate and you lose your body and your life...[she] had studied for a long time; her active edge was sharp and dangerous...Kuei Shan is over six hundred miles from Mt. T’ai; how then did Iron Grindstone Liu want to have Kuei Shan go to the feast? Tell me, what was her meaning? This old lady understands Kuei Shan’s conversation: fiber coming, thread going, one letting go, one gathering in; they answer back to each other like two mirrors reflecting each other, without any reflecting image to be seen. Action to action, they complement each other; phrase to phrase, they accord. People these days can be poked three times and not turn their heads, but this old lady couldn’t be fooled one little bit.”

 

Source: Blue Cliff Record, translated by Thomas Cleary and J.C. Cleary
Photo by Jerrold Bennett

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

Where Does Chao-chou Live?

When Zen Master Chao-chou had gone out from the monastery, he met a woman who asked, "Where do you live, Venerable Sir?"

He replied, "In the hsi of the Eastern Mountain of Chao-chou." The woman said nothing.

When he returned to the monastery, the Master asked the monks, "Which meaning of hsi should be applied?"

Some suggested hsi meant "west" and others insisted on hsi meaning "dwelling."

The Master remarked, "You should all be judges in the administrative office."

The monks inquired, "Oh, Master, why do you say that?"

Chao-chou replied, "You are all so literate."

Commentary
None of this would have happened if Chao-chou hadn't wandered around. At least the old woman didn't get tangled up in his web.

Source: The Roaring Stream, edited by Nelson Foster and Jack Shoemaker
Photo by Ron Layters

Chao-chou Gets Slapped

When Chao-chou was outside the monastery one day, he came across an old woman carrying a basket. He immediately asked, "Where are you going?"

The old woman said, "I'm on my way to steal Chao-chou's bamboo shoots."

Chao-chou said, "What will you do if you run into Chao-chou?"

The old woman came up to Chao-chou and gave him a slap.

Commentary
Each person can teach us. Can we teach each person?

Source: The Roaring Stream, by Nelson Foster and Jack Shoemaker
Photo by Stephen