2020-01-13

Gateless Gate 20

209
Gateless Gate (Mumonkan, Wumenguan) #20
A Person of Great Strength

Personnel and Date
  • SONGYUAN Chongyue (Shôgen Sugaku, 1132-1202, 25th gen), disciple of Mi-an Xianjie (1118-1186)
  • Date guess: ca. 1182
Case (Yamada)
Master Songyuan said, “Why is it that a man of great strength does not lift up his leg?”[1]
He also said, “It is not with his tongue that we speak.”[2]
[1] “Why can’t the person of great strength lift up a leg?” (Aitken);
“Why is it that someone of great power cannot lift a foot?” (Cleary);
“Why can’t a person of great strength lift his own foot?” (Gu);
“How does a person of great power walk without raising a foot?” (Hinton);
“Why is it a man of great strength does not lift his legs” (Low, Sekida);
"Why is it that the man of great strength cannot pick up his own leg and stand?" (Senzaki);
“Why is it that a man of great strength cannot lift his leg?” (Shibayama).
[2] Again he said, "It is not with the tongue that you speak” (Aitken);
He also said, ‘Speaking out is not a matter of the tongue’” (Cleary);
"[Because] he speaks without using his tongue," he continued. (Gu);
Then he continued: ‘Or speak without moving a tongue?’” (Hinton);
And he also said, ‘He does not speak with his tongue’” (Low);
And he also said, “It is not the tongue he speaks with” (Sekida);
and he also said, “Opening the mouth has nothing to do with the tongue’” (Senzaki);
Again he said, "It is not with the tongue that he speaks.” (Shibayama).

Wumen's Comment (Yamada)
It should be said that Songyuan poured out all that he had in his intestines and belly. But there is nobody who can recognize this. However, even someone who realized this immediately would be give a bitter blow by me. Why? Look! If you want to know whether it is pure gold or not, you must look at it in the midst of fire.
Wumen's Verse (Yamada)
Raising a leg, I upturn the Scented Ocean,
Lowering my head, I look down on the four dhyana heavens.[1]
There is no place to put this whole body.
Please finish this poem in your own words.[2]
[1] Lifting my leg, I kick the Scented Ocean upside down; /inclining my head, I look down on the Four Dhyana Heavens (Aitken);
Lifting a foot, one stamps over the ocean; /Lowering the head, one looks down upon the heavens: (Cleary);
Lifting a foot, he kicks over the fragrant ocean. /Lowering his head, he sees the four meditation heavens (Gu);
Walk, each step kicking this fragrant ocean of a universe head-over-heels, gaze down into the four heavens of chan stillness (Hinton);
Lifting his leg, he kicks up the scented ocean; /Lowering his head, he looks down on the highest heaven (Low);
Lifting his leg, he kicks up the Scented Ocean; /Lowering his head, he looks down on the fourth Dhyana heaven (Sekida);
If the leg of enlightenment moved, the great ocean would overflow, /If that head bowed, it would look down upon the heavens (Senzaki);
Lifting his leg he kicks up the Scented Ocean, /Lowering his head, he looks down on the Four Dhyana Heavens (Shibayama).
[2] there is no place to put my complete body -- /please add the final line here (Aitken);
The whole body has nowhere to stay; /Please follow up with another line (Cleary);
One whole body -- ungraspable (Gu);
and still, there isn't room enough to reveal your nature wholly. --Go ahead, add your own line here-- (Hinton);
His body is so big there is now where to put it-- /Now, somebody write the last line here (Low);
There is no space vast enough for his body -- /Now, somebody write the last line here (Sekida);
Such a body has no place to rest... /Let another continue this poem (Senzaki);
There is no place to put this gigantic body. /You please add another line (Shibayama).

Xutang's Verse (Cleary)
Power cannot lift aloft, let me tell you;
Why bother to whip a topflight horse?
With one leap sail into the thirty-six open skies;
When you arrive, your ordinary bones will turn immortal.

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