Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi

Gateless Gate, Case 26

 Zen Mountain Monastery, 10/06/2019

Compassion is based in wisdom, but skillfulness is what makes it possible for students to receive the wise and compassionate teachings that may not be clear to our normal, discursive minds. Koans are a skillful means, such as in this story of monastics hearing “one has it, one has not,” bringing all doubt to bear on one moment in time, the place where you are.