Wu-men Hui-kai (1183 – 1260) was a Chinese Chan (equivalent of Japanese Zen) master during China’s Song dynasty. He is most famous for having compiled and commentated the forty-eight-koan collection: The Gateless Barrier. The importance of “Great Doubt” was one of his central teaching devices. In many respects, Wu-men was the classical eccentric Zen master. He wandered from temple to temple for many years, wore old and dirty robes, grew his hair and beard long and worked in the temple fields. At age 64, he founded the Gokoku-ninno temple where he hoped to retire quietly, but seekers often came to him searching for instruction.
Quotations by Wu-men Hui-ka…
Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn, a cool breeze in summer, snow in winter. If your mind isn’t clouded by unnecessary things, this is the best season of your life.
If you seek, how is that different from pursuing sound and form? If you don’t seek, how are you different from earth, wood, or stone? You must seek without seeking.
