Zen Sand: The Book of Capping Phrases for Koan Practice

Twelve-Character Verses

Twelve-Character Verses 12.1 o)¼_ÙØ Ainonoshiru koto wa nanji ni yurusu, kuchibashi o tsuge, o³¼_–v Aidasuru koto wa nanji ni yurusu, mizu o sosoge. When we’re reviling one another, you may give me tit for tat; When we’re spitting at one another, you may spew me with slobber. Trans. from ZD #117. Heki 2 Main Case Comm., 9 Main Case Comm., 58 Main Case Comm. ZGS 12.1, ZRKS 12.25, Shiba 309, ZGJI 567, ZGDJT 2d, ZGJT 268, ZD #117 12.2 BúÊñK7 Ie hin ne shite soshoku o benjigataku,ªÚ#´u– Koto isogashiku shite sõsho suru ni oyobazu. Their house is so poor, they don’t know what a simple meal is; They’re so busy with work, they can’t even scribble off a few notes. MMK 21. ZGS 12.2, ZRKS 12.60, Shiba 299, ZGJI 567, ZGJT 48, KZS #1120 12.3 ¡Øqh¢f Ikadeka jakue kippan ni shikan, ‘n[Mi Kono hoka sara ni busso nashi. What compares with just getting dressed or eating your food? Aside from this, there are no buddhas and ancestors. ZGS 12.3, ZRKS 12.130, Shiba 309, ZGJI 567 12.4 saÁ¾Ÿú Ichijin tonde ten o kakushi, s†F¾VG Ikke ochite chi o õu. A single mote of ✻dust✽ µies up and hides all the heavens, A single ✻mustard seed✽ falls and covers the whole earth. ZGJT 25: Ichijin tonde ten o õi. ZGS 12.4, ZRKS 12.126, Shiba 298, ZGJI 568, ZGJT 25 12.5 s^+X«á Ichinin wa sankyaku no ro ni matagari, s^„X¸) Ichinin wa sankaku no tora ni noru. One sits astride a three-legged donkey, The other rides a three-horned tiger. ZGS 12.5, Shiba 298 12.6 s^ˆv|„ Ichinin wa junsui ni ho o hari, s^¡KûÈ Ichinin wa gyakufð ni kaji o toru. One sets his sail with the current, The other holds his rudder against the wind. ZGS 12.6, ZRKS 12.110, Shiba 298, ZGJI 568 458 12.7 s^úØËI Ichinin wa ben kenga no gotoku, s^S«…ã Ichinin wa kuchi bokutotsu ni nitari. One person’s eloquence is like a rushing stream, Another person’s speech is a rigid stutter. ZGS 12.7, Shiba na 12.8 szwî“{ Ichimõtõjõ no shishi,½êß$zw Hyakuoku mõtõ ni jigen su. The lion on one hair Displays itself on one billion hairs. ZGS na, ZRKS 12.141, Shiba 299, ZGJI 568 12.9 sÌØG]{ Ikkatsu daichi shindõ shi, sßm‚gÝ Ichibõ shumi funsai su. At one shout, the great earth trembles; At one blow of the stick, Mount ✻Sumeru✽ shatters to pieces. See ✻Stick and shout✽. ZGS 12.8, Shiba 297, ZGJI 567, KZS #1097 12.10 s׺¡Mº Issai no shõ wa kore busshõ, s×5¡M5 Issai no shiki wa kore busshiki. Every sound is the Buddha’s voice, Every form is the Buddha-form. Heki 79 Main Case. Shiba 298: issai no koe instead of issai no shõ; issai no iro instead of issai no shiki. The character 5 when read shiki implies shape or form (as opposed to emptiness), when read iro implies color. ZGS 12.9, ZRKS 12.124, Shiba 298, ZGJI 568, ZGJT 25 12.11 s……K{ Isshi wa kusu o yubisashi, s……üªmÉ Isshi wa shuji o yubisashite idesaru. With one ³nger pointing to the dog And one ³nger pointing to the head monk, he leaves. ZGS 12.10, Shiba na 12.12 sÐn_“[ Isshð enchð ni i o ete, G„a:„E Kyðku jinri kan o nusumu. Once one attains the mind in one burning stick of incense, Then one can steal a rest even in the ✻dust✽ clouds of the nine avenues. ZGS na, ZRKS 12.155, Shiba 298, ZGJI 568 12.12 z e n s a n d | 459 12° 12.13 ô
hlQ Ihatsu o dakkyaku shite iwaku,¤VY$Þ#; Nan to shite ka soregashi shuri ni aru to. Having stolen the robe and bowl, he says, “How did these come to be in my hands?” ZGS 12.11, Shiba na 12.14 [¸Èk™* I wa biru chõnei o fumi, ‘v‡{˜4 Gyõ wa dõji no sokka o hai su. His ideal is to stand on ✻Vairocana’s✽ crown, His practice is to prostrate at the feet of a child. ZGS 12.12, Shiba na 12.15...