Mumonkan - Case 15: Tozan's Three Blows

Tozan went to Ummon. Ummon asked him where he had come from.
Tozan said:
  "From Sato village."
Ummon asked:
  "In what temple did you remain for the summer?"
Tozan replied:
  "The temple of Hoji, south of the lake."
Wondering how long Tozan would continue with such factual answers, Ummon asked:
  "When did you leave there?"
Tozan answered:
  "The twenty-fifth of August."
Ummon said:
  "I should give you three blows with a stick, but today I forgive you."

The next day Tozan bowed to Ummon and asked:
  "Yesterday you forgave me three blows. I do not know why you
   thought me wrong."
Ummon, rebuking Tozan's spiritless responses, said:
  "You are good for nothing. You simply wander from one monastery to another."
Before Ummon's words were ended Tozan was enlightened. 


Mumon's Comment:

Ummon fed Tozan good Zen food. If Tozan can digest it, Ummon may add another
member to his family.

In the evening Tozan swam around in a sea of good and bad, but at dawn Ummon
crushed his nut shell. After all, he wasn't so smart.

Now, I want to ask: Did Tozan deserve the three blows? If you say yes, not
only Tozan but every one of you deserves them. If you say no, Ummon is
speaking a lie. If you answer this question clearly, you can eat the same
food as Tozan.

The Lion teaches His deluded son these instructions --
To jump forward you should turn your body over as early as possible,
For no reason I mention again that which is at the head,
The fore arrow [wound] is lighter and the back arrow [wound] is deep.
