Korean Zen: Ko Bong

Zen Master Ko Bong (1890 - 1962) was the greatest of Zen Master Man Gong's dharma heirs. He was also the most unorthodox and there are many stories of his "bad" behavior.

For example, one time Ko Bong stayed at small temple. Every day he worked very hard making a new rice field in the mountains. The temple was very poor, so the food was very bad.

One day when temple's master had gone to town, Ko Bong suggested to the other monks that they sell the monastery's cow and go buy wine and meat. Everyone agreed, so they sold the cow and used the money to buy wine and meat. After the evening sitting, they laughed and danced and drank all night in the meditation hall.

When the Zen master returned for the morning sitting, he found all fifty students asleep amidst the debris of the party.

The master wondered where they had gotten the money for this party. He ran to the barn and discovered - no cow! Very angry, he called everyone together in the main hall.

Shouting, the Zen master demanded that his cow be returned. On hearing this, Ko Bong took all his clothes off and crawled around the room on all fours saying, "Moo!"

Delighted, the master hit Ko Bong thirty times on the ass and said, "This is not my cow. This one is too small!'' Everyone was relieved. The subject was not brought up again.

After he became a teacher, Ko Bong agreed to give the Five Precepts to the layperson Chung Dong Go Sanim. The ceremony went smoothly until Ko Bong asked the traditional question:  "Can these precepts be kept by you or not?"

The layman stood up and said, "If I cannot drink, I die!"  Now there was a problem.

But Ko Bong immediately responded, "Then you take only four precepts" Chung Dong Go Sanim became the "Four Precepts Layman," and got "four precepts enlightenment."

Ko Bong would frequently test his students with an obscure kong-an:

The mouse eats cat food, but the cat bowl is broken.
What does this mean?

It was through this kong-an that Zen Master Seung Sahn attained his great enlightenment and became Ko Bong's only dharma heir.

Source: Don't Know Mind, by Richard Shrobe

Photo by Martin Roell, of Hwagyesa Temple, where Ko Bong lives the last years of his life attended by Zen Master Seung

Comments

[Puerhan]

Thanks for continuing the journey Barry.

~gassho~

[Barry Briggs]

Thank you, Puerhan! Happy to walk together with you...

[Alice]

Wild behavior - the classic MO of the mahasiddha (crazy wisdom) lineages I practice under. Somehow I really connect to "bad" behavior - LOL! Have you noticed?

As (presently) Four Precepts Laywoman, sure, I'll take Four Precepts Enlightenment! Bring it! Sweeeet!

Thanks, Barry!

[Barry Briggs]

Dear, dear Alice - you already have Complete Attainment! Sweeeet!

Laughing out loud,
Barry