Buddha Dharma University Press
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Wu Shan Lu
By Abp. Wonji Dharma, D.Dh.

One of the core tenants of Zen Buddhism is Kongàn practice. The original concept of Kongàn, although associated with Buddhist practice in the West is not strictly a Buddhist term and translated means “a public case,” “a public exchange,” “a public situation,” or “a public document.” The pronunciation of the Chinese characters (公案) for Kongàn is Gōng-àn in Chinese or Koan in Japanese. The common use for this word comes from ancient China, and referred to a situation when copies of a government document were produced, the scribe would use a “chop” or seal on the copy in such a way that half of the seal was on the original document and half was on the copied document. This would allow for future verification of the authenticity of the copy by matching the two halves of the seal.
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The Barrier That Has No Gate, 
Wu Men Guan
By Abp. Wonji Dharma, D.Dh.


The Barrier That Has No Gate (無門關, Mandarin. Wumenguan, Japanese. Mumonkan) is a collection of 48 Chan (Zen) koans compiled in the early 13th century by Chinese monk Wumen (無門) with additional comments and questions by Zen Master Seung Sahn. This book contains the original Chinese along with the Author's translations into English. Wumen's preface indicates that the volume was published in 1228. Each koan is accompanied by a commentary and verse by Wumen. A classic edition includes a 49th case composed by Anwan (pen name for Cheng Ch'ing-Chih) in 1246. Wu-liang Tsung-shou also supplemented the volume with three poems relating to case number 47, composed in 1230. Along with the Blue Cliff Record and the oral tradition of Hakuin Ekaku, The Gateless Gate is a central work much used in the Linji/Mazu Schools of practice. Five of the koans in the work concern the sayings and doings of Zhaozhou; four concern Yunmen.