Longya's Why Bodhidharma Came from the West (BCR20)

KOAN:

Longya asked Cuiwei, “Why did Bodhidharma come from the West?”
Cuiwei said, “Pass me that meditation brace.”

Longya passed him the brace.

Cuiwei took it and hit him with it.

“I accept that you can hit me, but that doesn’t show me Bodhidharma’s intention,” said Longya.
Then Longya went and asked Linji, “Why did Bodhidharma come from the West?” 
“Pass me that cushion,” said Linji.

Longya passed it to him. Linji took it and hit him with it.

“I accept that you can hit me, but that doesn’t show me Bodhidharma’s intention,” said Longya.

—Blue Cliff Record Case 20 (transl. by John Tarrant & Joan Sutherland)

Note: A chin-to-mat brace was sometimes used to keep a meditator upright