Chu Gives Three Calls 無門關 十七

Three times the master’s question

three times the student’s response

each time, the same answer

each time the master shrinks

as answer surpasses question.

There is no master

there is no student

there is only the lamp

in two sets of hands.

A reflection on case 11 of the Mumonkan (Gateless Gate) koans.

3 thoughts on “Chu Gives Three Calls 無門關 十七

  1. 800 year old wisdom – very nicely expressed in verse. The best middle and high school and university teachers know this. May I send a copy of your poem with your name to our teen’s teachers?

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