Zen koan of the day - The Dialogue of Manjusri and Wu Cho

The Dialogue of Manjusri and Wu Cho

Manjusri asked Wu Cho, "Where have you just come from?"

Wu Cho said, "The South."

Manjusri said, "How is the Buddhist Teaching being carried on in the South?"

Wu Cho said, "Monks of the Last Age have little regard for the rules of discipline."

Manjusri said, "How numerous are the congregations?"

Wu Cho said, "Some three hundred, some five hundred."

Wu Cho asked Manjusri, "How is it being carried on here-abouts?"

Manjusri said, "Ordinary people and sages dwell together; dragons and snakes intermingle."

Wu Cho said, "How numerous are the congregations?"

Manjusri said, "In front, three by three; in back, three by three."

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dcj commentary: The ants go marching ten by ten, hurrah, hurrah.