2 comments about The Iron Flute: 100 Zen Koans.

1. This collection of 100 Koans, was first compiled by Genro in the 18th century, and then is commented on by his disciple Fugai, and then by the Japanese Zen Master Senzaki who first brought Zen to America in the 20th century.

   The koans are remarkable, not puzzles ... not paradoxes ... but what? And having written this, I am worthy of a blow, and perhaps you the reader of this review another blow, for there are many blows from the master to the student here. So don't place to much credence on the words, which are just the shadows. The interweaving of the 3 commentaries, can be humorous, for example Fugai entreats his master Genro "Stop! Stop! Don't try to pull an unwilling cat over the carpet.". Senzaki's commentary places the koan in context.

   There is also some poetry from Genro, that comments on the Koan -- for example "A cloud rests at the mouth of the cave
   Doing nothing all day.
   The moonlight penetrates the waves through the night,
   But leaves no trace in e water."

   Nyogen says "American Zen is running sideways writing books, lecturing, referring to theology, psychology, and what not". So don't get wrapped up in reviewing it, and don't let this donkey bring it down.




2. Zen Koans serve as a metaphor for principles of reality that go beyond the private opinion of one person. Koans are not solipsistic puzzles. They are public cases, reality is whole. Koans are a type of irrational alarm clock used to wake us from our rational minds. To wake us from duality to nonduality so that we are present and accounted for.
   
   It is better to realize the meaning of a Koan than to interpret it. Interpretation is a rational function. One must learn to turn the light around, to make the inside the outside, to make the two one. Realization is a wholistic function that includes the rational as well as the irrational aspects of our being. Koans are more intuitive than intellectual. Pure intellection has a tendency to see things as distinct pairs of inimical opposites. Good versus evil. Intuition knows things don't exist separately from each other, that seeming opposites are the polar expression of an underlying unity. Though a rope has two ends it is one rope. The heart that unites is superior to the mind that divides.
   
   What is the sound of one hand clapping? What is the sound of nonduality? In silence one may hear the clear tone of enlightenment.
   
   Thou essence art that essence.

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