One day, the monks of the eastern and western halls at Master Nansen's monastery were arguing over a cat. Seeing the dispute, Nansen held the cat up and shouted to the assembly, 'If any of you can say a word of Zen, I will spare this cat. If you cannot, I will cut it in two.' The monks remained silent, unable to offer a word of insight. Nansen then proceeded to kill the cat. Later that evening, Nansen's senior disciple Joshu returned. Nansen recounted the day's events to him. Joshu immediately took off his straw sandals, placed them on his head, and walked out of the room without a word. Nansen sighed and said, 'If you had been there, you would have saved the cat.'
Attachment to logic and dualistic arguments prevents true understanding; direct, spontaneous action transcends the trap of intellectual debate.
Questions about this story
What is the moral of Nansen Kills the Cat?
The moral highlights the danger of dualistic thinking and intellectual attachment. It suggests that when we are caught in 'right versus wrong,' we lose sight of reality and life itself.
Why did Joshu put his sandals on his head?
Joshu's action was a non-dualistic response that showed the absurdity of the monks' argument. By putting shoes where the head belongs, he demonstrated that the world was already upside down due to their petty disputes.
Did Master Nansen really kill the cat?
In the context of the koan, the act is presented as literal to provide a 'great shock' to the student's system. It serves as a radical teaching tool to break through the monks' intellectual stagnation.
What does the cat represent in this Zen story?
The cat represents the object of attachment and the source of conflict. It symbolizes how humans often fight over external things while ignoring the internal state of their own minds.
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Good night.
