402. ZEN REMARKS

 402. Koan: 'Inorder to be a worthy Zen student I must go straight on a narrow mountain path with ninety-nine curves'. Like with so many Zen koans this one demands that the student do the  (seemingly) impossible. The central point of the koan would have the student 'go straight' on a narrow winding mountain path. Can this be done? If so, how?

401. ZEN REMARKS

 401. In the vast wide world of Master Unmon, is there room for Bodhidharma? If so, where?

400. ZEN REMARKS

 400. Bodhidharma is a key figure in the Zen Buddhist tradition in that he is credited with transmitting Dhyana Buddhism from India to China where it was translated into C'han. Contemporary scholarship has raised questions about the historicity of Bodhidharma and his pivotal role linking Dhyana and C'han. Should it be demonstrated that Bodhidharma is a fictional character, how would this affect your practice of Zen? 

399. ZEN REMARKS

 399. Do you find yourself standing between an outer world and an inner world? If so, on what do you stand? 

398. ZEN REMARKS

 398. Clearly see that 'all five skandhas are empty' and realize for yourself 'how vast and wide the world is'. 

397. ZEN REMARKS

 397. My world, your world, the world -- are they the same or different? 

396. ZEN REMARKS

 396. Suppose you stand at a window of your house and gaze out upon the world. Is it simply out there?  Or does it press in upon you and, perhaps, beyond you? And now where are you, both in relation to yourself and the world?