THE ZEN KOAN
The fire god seeking fire zen koan
Once a monk called Director Xuanze was in the assembly of Fayan. Fayan asked him, "Director Xuanze, how long have you been in this community?"
Xuanze said, "I have been studying with you for three years."
The master said, "You are a latecomer. Why don't you ask me about buddha-dharma?"
Xuanze said, "I can not deceive you, sir. When I was studying with Zen master Qingfeng, I mastered the place of ease and joy in buddha-dharma."
The master said, "With what words did you enter this understanding?"
Xuanze said, "When I asked Qinfeng, 'What is the self of a Zen student?' he said, 'The fire god is here to look for fire.'"
Fayan said, "That is a good statement. But I'm afraid you did not understand it."
Xuanze said, "The fire god belongs to fire. So I understood that fire looks for fire and self looks for self."
The master said, "Indeed, you did not understand. If buddha-dharma were like that, it would not have been transmitted until now."
Then Xuanze was distressed and went away. But on his way he said to himself, "The teacher is a renowned teacher in this country, a great leader of five hundred monks. His criticism of my fault ought to have some point." He went back to Fayan, apologized, and said, "What is the self of a Zen student?"
Fayan said, "The fire god comes seeking fire."
Upon hearing this statement, Xuanze was enlightened.
