The Gateless Gate/Shuzan's Short Staff

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The Gateless Gate
by Mumon, translated by Nyogen Senzaki and Paul Reps

43. Shuzan's Short Staff

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Koan number 43 out of 49 in this work (published 1228, translated 1934)

822429The Gateless Gate — 43. Shuzan's Short StaffNyogen Senzaki and Paul RepsMumon

Shuzan held out his short staff and said: "If you call this a short staff, you oppose its reality. If you do not call it a short staff, you ignore the fact. Now what do you wish to call this?"

Mumon’s comment: If you call this a short staff, you oppose its reality. If you do not call it a short staff, you ignore the fact. It cannot be expressed with words and it cannot be expressed without words. Now say quickly what it is.

Holding out the short staff,

He gave an order of life or death.

Positive and negative interwoven,

Even Buddhas and patriarchs cannot escape this attack.