Mumonkan - Case 44: Basho's Staff

Master Basho said to his disciples,
  "If you have the staff, I will give it to you.
   If you have no staff, I will take it away from you!"


Mumon's Comments:

This staff helps you to cross the river with the shattered bridge. The staff
leads you back to your village in the moonless dark night. If you call it the
staff, then you will go right into hell like an arrow.

   Whether one is deep or shallow,
   It lies in the palm of the hand which holds the staff.
   The staff supports the heaven and maintains the earth,
   Wherever the staff freely goes,
   It will propagate the true teaching.