Christian Koans Part II

Hey, y'all,

My recent break was an opportunity to work on the new collection I first referenced in the blog post "Christians, Koans and the Logos."  Here are two more "Christian Koans."  In the tradition of Zen, they're offered largely without comment or guidance.  For those who wish to truly wrestle with what's here, however, re-reading the post "Kairos, Koans and Conversion: One, Introduction" would provide some basic ways to begin to pin this material down.

I have three collections of "Christian Koans" planned, to echo the three classic Zen collections ("Gateless gate," the "Blue Cliff Record" and "The book of Equanimity").  The first of those planned collections is nearly a for-real rough draft.  For now I'm calling the collection "Second Didache" in homage to the first century Christian catechism, the first to bear the name.

Ongoing updates will be forthcoming.

Namaste, y'all.  The two-bit guru in me recognizes the great Enlightened One blooming in you.

Peace,

Josh

Case 11: Anthony knocks at the door 

Brother Anthony found Fr. Christian outside his Cell and said: “Give me a word, Abba, by which I might live my life.” Fr Christian responded “Jesus said “Repent, the kingdom of heaven is near.” Br. Anthony said “He also said ‘Foxes have dens, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’”

Coming to Brother Gregory’s cell, Br. Anthony knocked on the door and said “Give me a word, Abba, by which I might live my life.” The Old Man was silent for a long time. Then he said “John the Baptist said ‘Repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Br. Anthony prostrated, saying “The thing comes from the Lord. I cannot speak to you anything bad or good.”


Br. Adam’s Commentary: 

Both monks spoke of the kingdom of God. Why was one rejected and another accepted? Tell me, what is the difficulty here? God sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. But Br. Anthony still had a choice, and words flowed from what filled his heart. If you say there is no difference between the two old monks, you have no enlightenment. If you say there is, indeed, a difference, you have no enlightenment.

Br. Adam’s Verse

The kingdom within you
The Cell that teaches everything-
go to that room and shut the door.
No this, no that, here is the living water,
welling up to eternal life.









Case 26: Fr. Mark’s giving and withholding

Fr. Mark said “There were two questions: Our Savior asked ‘Did John’s baptism come from heaven or from earth?’ Pilate asked ‘Where are you from?’” Fr. Mark paused. “One giving,” He said, “And one withholding.”



Br. Adam’s Commentary:

Who gave, and who withheld? If your alms are the things that are within, you will know the secret, and you will see where Fr. Mark failed. However, I warn you strongly against discussing giving and withholding.



Brother Adam’s Verse:

Answering the question, the heavens opened.
But Christianity is from the heaven of heavens
Tear open the heavens and bring them down.
Go into your room and close the door.