Koan Commentary: Nansen Kills the Cat

Nansen found monks of the Eastern and Western halls arguing about a cat. He told them, “Say a word of Zen, or I will kill the cat.” No one could say anything to save the cat, and so Nansen cut it in two.

That evening, Joshu returned from an excursion and Nansen told him what had happened. Joshu took off a sandal, put it on his head, and walked out.

Nansen said, “If you had been there, the cat would have been saved.”

- The Gateless Gate, Case 14

One Zen student to whom I ga...