What is this? | Yamada Mumon

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One day two monks visit Seppo at his

hermitage. Seppo goes out to greet them at

the gate and he says, “What is this?” The

monks reply, “what is this?” – Seppo returns

to his cottage in disappointment.

(Hekiganroku, case 51).

And looking at Yamada Mumon’s Enso we

read Seppo’s question, “what is this?” – Or is

it the visitors’ answer?

Yamada Mumon (1900-1988)