Killing a Cat — A Troubling Case

Recorded Saturday, July 29, 2023. (Last teisho before August break.) Case 14 from the Gateless Barrier (The Wu-Men Kuan | Mumonkan) - Nan-ch’üan Kills the Cat The case: The priest Nan-ch’üan found monks of the eastern and western halls arguing about a cat. He held up the cat and said, “Everyone! If you can say something, I will spare this cat. If you can’t say anything, I will cut off its head.” No one could say a word, so Nan-ch’üan cut the cat into two. That evening, Chao-cho...