Mumonkan

CASE 17. ECHU'S THREE CALLS Echu, called Kokushi, the teacher of the emperor, called his attendant, Oshin, three times and three times Oshin answered, "Yes!" Kokushi said, "I thought that I had offended you, but in reality you offended me!" Mumon's Comment: Kokushi called Oshin three times. His tongue fell to the ground (from talking too much). Oshin answered three times and revealed his harmony with the Tao. Echu, getting old and lonely, attempted even to hold the cow's head down to feed on the grass. Oshin did not trouble to show his Zen, for his satisfied stomach had no desire to eat. When the nation is prosperous, everyone is too proud (to eat plain food), now just say who offended which one? When prison canga is iron and has no hole, (Echu's) followers have neither peace nor rest. When you intend to uphold the teaching of Zen, You must climb a mountain of swords with bare feet.