Four Kinds of Like This

In zen, we often hear “just like this” or “only like this”. I’m also very fond of saying that but what is the meaning of “like this”? Below is an excerpt of an interview with ZMSS on his system of “like this” kong-an practice. I found it from the Kwan Um School of Zen website sometime ago. Read on…umm…hope it’s not too confusing…hehe! ^_^

**********************************************************************************
ZMSS: We use four kinds of “like this” kong-ans:

1. Without like this
= true emptiness
= primary point
= silence
= complete stillness

Example kong-ans:
“What is true emptiness?”
“What is complete stillness?”

2. Become one like this
= KATZ!   
= correct demonstration of primary point
= hit

Example kong-ans:
“Buddha picked up a flower, Mahakashyapa smiled. What does it mean?”

3. Only like this
= meaning is truth
= true function of primary point

Example kong-ans:
“Spring comes, grass grows by itself.”
“3 x 3 = 9.”
“What is Buddha?” “Three pounds of flax.”

4. Just like this
= just doing is correct life
= one-point correct function

Example kong-ans:
“Go drink tea.”
“Go wash your bowls.”

We can understand these four kinds of kong-ans in this way. You go into the interview room; the teacher places a cup and a pen before you and asks you if the cup and the pen are the same or different. The four kinds of “like this” answers will be:

Without like this: maintain complete silence, a don't know mind.

Become one like this: hit the floor or shout KATZ!

Only like this: saying “cup is cup, pen is pen.”

Just like this: drink from the cup, write with the pen.

So, “just like this is just doing it, correct function, correct everyday life.