Mumonkan / Wumenguan · CASE 36
Meeting One Who Has Attained the Way
The Gateless Gate
Case
Wuzu said, “When you meet on the road someone who has attained the Way, do not meet him with speech or silence. Tell me: how will you meet him?”
Verse
Meeting on the road one who has attained the Way, do not meet him with speech or silence. A fist square across cheek and face— understand directly, if you understand.1
Footnotes 1
- Zen encounter records often include blows, but the verse's violence should not be generalized into authorization for physical discipline outside its literary and institutional setting. ↩
About this version and its sources
- Full source citation
- 路逢達道 — CBETA T2005: T48n2005_p0297b25–p0297c03.
- Method
- Direct critical-edition translation from the cited received base text. Source claims, hagiography, uncertainty, and unresolved readings remain identified in the notes and project record.
- Editorial uncertainty
- Independent philological and reader review remain pending.
- Rights
- Project translation © Tulsa Zen Center Critical Edition contributors. Source text is cited by edition; redistribution policy requires final organizational approval.
- Revision identifier
- 49fdc32c5f44
Wumen's commentary
If you can meet him intimately here, there is nothing to prevent a joyful celebration. If you cannot, you must put an eye in place everywhere.