大方無外 224. Hanging On a Vine
Zen Master Yong Sahn sent this story to all the Zen Masters in Korea, and asked them with a response:
"A man was being chased by a wild elephant across a field. He stumbled into an old well, and as he was falling, grabbed hold of a vine which was hanging from the inside of the well. He looked down and saw three poisonous snakes at the bottom of the well, while above, the elephant was still waiting for him. A black mouse and a white mouse began gnawing on the vine just as honey from a plant growing on the side of the well began dripping into his mouth. If you were this man, how could you stay alive?"
Each Zen Master sent a reply:
Man Gong: "Last night I had a dream, so I wake up."
Hae Wol: "If you want to understand, you cannot understand. Only don't-know."
Hae Bong: "Buddha cannot see Buddha."
Yong Sahn: "Flower falls down, flax in the garden."
Bo Wol: "How do you fall into the well?"
Jun Kang: "Sweet!"
Ko Bong and Hyong Gak both wrote, "Aigo, aigo!"
Chun Soeng: Only laughing.
Hae Am: "Already Dead."
Tan Ho: "Water flowing, never stopping."
1. If you were there at that time, how could you stay alive?
2. Which one is best answer?
COMMENTARY: Be careful. Open your mouth, already a big mistake. Thinking, you lose your life. Just do it.