The Family Tradition of the Lin Chi School

with Commentary by Zen Master Seung Sahn

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NAKED, SWORD IN HAND, ONE KILLS BUDDHAS AND PATRIARCHS.

Do not kill. Do not revive. Do you know Buddha? Then put it down.

PAST AND PRESENT ARE JUDGED THROUGH THE THREE HYUN AND THE THREE YO, AND THROUGH THE FOUR POSITIONS OF GUEST AND HOST, SNAKES AND DRAGONS ARE DISCERNED.

Spring comes from the South. Winter goes North. When a hungry child cries his mother gives him milk.

WITH THE PRECIOUS SWORD OF THE DIAMOND KING, THE EVIL SPIRITS ARE CLEARED AWAY.

The eyes are ten thousand. The hands are ten thousand. What are demons? Wind comes and blows away all dust.

WITH THE DIGNITY OF A LION, THE SOULS OF ALL BEASTS ARE TORN TO PIECES.

Katz!!! Be careful.

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW THE LIN CHI SECT? THUNDER AND LIGHTNING IN THE BLUE SKY, AND RAGING WAVES ON THE PLAIN.

Lin Chi's eyes are in his feet. His feet are hanging from the bone of space. The startled rabbit runs into the thicket. Many bright stars are in the sky.

LIN CHI

Lin Chi (died 866) was a disciple of Huang Po, and the founder of the school that bears his name (in Korean, Yimje; in Japanese, Rinzai).

THREE HYUN

Three Hyun are the three kinds of substances:

1. The substance abiding in the Origin.
2. The substance abiding in words.
3. The substance abiding in substance.

THREE YO

Three Yo are the three summaries

1. Perception is the Great Nature.
2. Perception is the Great Action.
3. Perception and Great Action are simultaneous.

THE FOUR POSITIONS OF GUEST AND HOST

The four positions are:

1. Guest in Guest.
2. Guest in Host.
3. Host in Guest.
4. Host in Host.