Zen Humorin Six Easy Steps

Professor Hoffert(a.k.a. Babbling Brook)

I. Know When to SpeakThe Daoist Roots of Zen

Humor

One who knows does not speak;One who speaks does not know!

[Daodejing 56]

知者不言，言者不知。

II. Is this Funny Yet?Nan-in Pours Some Tea

Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen. Nan-in served tea. . .

II. Is this Funny Yet?Nan-in Pours Some Tea

He poured his visitor’s cup full, and then kept on pouring. The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. “It is overfull. No more will go in!” “Like this cup,” Nan-in said, “you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?”

III. The Freedom of Emptiness

The Dao of “Not-Knowing”Once Zhuang Zhou [i.e. Zhuangzi] dreamt he was a butterfly,

a butterfly flitting and fluttering around, happy with himself and

doing as he pleased. He didn’t know he was Zhuang Zhou.

Suddenly he woke up and there he was, solid and unmistakable

Zhuang Zhou. But he didn’t know if he was Zhuang Zhou who

had dreamt he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he

was Zhuang Zhou. Between Zhuang Zhou and a

butterfly there must be some distinction! This

is called the Transformation of Things.

IV. The Art of EloquenceHearing the Sound of

SilenceButei, Emperor of Ryo, sent for Fu-daishi to explain the Diamond Sutra. On the appointed day Fu-daishi came to the palace, mounted a platform, rapped the table before him, then descended and, still not speaking, left. Butei sat motionless for some minutes, whereupon Shiko, who had seen all that happened, went up to him and said, “May I be so bold, sir, as to ask whether you understood?” The Emperor sadly shook his head. “What a pity!” Shiko exclaimed. “Fu-daishi has never been more eloquent.”知者不言，言者不知。

V. The KoanA monk asked Zhaozhou: “Does a

doghave Buddha Nature? Joshu

said…

V. The KoanA monk asked Zhaozhou: “Does a

doghave Buddha Nature? Joshu

said…

Mu!

VI. The PunchlineHakuin Ekaku

Hakuin is one of the greatest figures of Japanese Buddhism. His significance is most evident in the impact he had on subsequent history. After him, nearly all Japanese Rinzai masters belonged to his line and practiced what may be called “Hakuin-Zen.” His achievements represent a turning point in the history of Japanese Zen inasmuch as he put an end to the decline that had set in the Zen movement since the end of the medieval period. He also laid new foundations for the Rinzai school. He was the first to develop a system for applying the practice of koan to enlightenment, a system that his disciples would bring to perfection. [Zen Buddhism: A History, Volume 2, 367]

VI. The PunchlineHakuin Ekaku

One of Hakuin’smost famous

koans is…

VI. The PunchlineHakuin Ekaku

One of Hakuin’smost famous

koans is…“What is the sound

of one hand clapping?”

VI. The PunchlineHakuin Ekaku

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