Vast Emptiness, Nothing Holy (BCR1)(BS2)

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KOAN:

Emperor Wu asked the great teacher Bodhidharma, “What is the first principle of the holy teaching?”
Bodhidharma said, “Vast emptiness, nothing holy.”
“Who are you, standing here in front of me?” asked the emperor.
“I don’t know,” said Bodhidharma.
The emperor didn’t understand.

—The Blue Cliff Record Case 1, & Book of Serenity Case 2

Text August 14, 2020

Spirit of Love, Joy & Play in Koans

John Tarrant

Koans
Emperor Wu Questions Bodhidharma (BCR1)(BS2), Vast Emptiness, Nothing Holy (BCR1)(BS2), Yanguan's Rhinoceros Fan (BCR91)(BS25), Yunmen’s Medicine and Sickness Cure Each Other (BCR87)
Tags
2014 Summer Sesshin, Blue Cliff Record, Bodhidharma, embodying koans, play, Rhinoceros, sickness and medicine, what am I, Yunmen
Category
Text

Value a sort of play and see if you can break the koan—the koan will be amused. And see it and let it into your heart, and see what comes, or follow it around, or have it follow you. And finally you’ll realize, “Oh, I’m here. I’m free.”

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