The Mirror of Zen

13
You should hold the kong-an with total determination,
like a hen nesting on her brood, like a cat hunting a
mouse, like a hungry man thinking of food, like a thirsty
man thinking of water, and like a child longing for its
mother. Only if you practice with this kind of mind are
you sure to penetrate your Great Doubt.

Commentary

The Patriarchs left 1,700 kong-ans, such as, "A dog has no Buddha-
nature, "the pine tree in the courtyard," "three pounds of flax"
and "dry shit-stick." A hen nests on her brood, always keeping
them warm. When a cat chases a mouse, its mind and eyes never
wander from the object of its hunt, no matter what. A starving
man has but one object: food, a man with throat parched from
thirst conceives of but one goal: get water. A child who has
been left alone for a long time by its mother only longs to see
her again.
All of these focused efforts come only from the deepest mind,
and are not artificial. It is a kind of intense sincerity. Without
such a deeply straightforward striving mind, it is impossible to
attain enlightenment.