Jinniu Dances Before the Meal (BCR74)

KOAN:

Each day at mealtime, Jinniu took the food to the front of the hall and danced and laughed heartily saying, “Bodhisattvas come and eat your rice!” 

(Xuedou comments: That teacher wasn’t being kind hearted.) 

Later a student asked another teacher, “In the old days someone said, “Bodhisattvas, come and eat your food” What did the teacher mean?”

The teacher replied, “That’s a grace before the meal.”

—Blue Cliff Record 74 (transl. John Tarrant)