The most ven. Beopjeon, The Supreme Patriarch of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism delivered a dharma talk to proclaim the commencement of the summer retreat season for the Buddhist Era of 2555. On May 16^th, the Supreme Patriarch’s hwadu referred to the dialogue between the Seon Master Josan and his student on “what is the most expensive object in the world.”

The Supreme Patriarch stated, “Seon masters enticed innocent cats to be trapped in a dried up well. Likewise, when monks are driven into desperation, they would struggle to escape. This is how the monks should practice. Such sense of crisis is necessary to motivate them to study what will transcend life and death.”

In addition, the Supreme Patriarch stated, “Seon Master Josan said the most expensive object in the world is a dead cat’s skull. During the summer retreat season, take a deeper look and investigate to solve the reason why the Seon Master Josan said such a dirty, useless and ugly object is the most expensive object. One must have an intrepid spirit to resolve this question during the summer retreat that without finding an answer for this question, one would never leave the Seon Meditation Hall.”  

Meanwhile, this year’s summer retreat season starts on the 17^th of May (April 15^th on lunar calendar) with 2,200 monks at 100 Seon zen centers in all parts of Korea for the duration of three months.

Following is the Supreme Patriarch Bupjeon’s Dharma talk for the summer retreat season.

The hwadu from the Supreme Patriarch’s summer retreat Dharma talk: What is the most expensive object in the world?

A student asked Seon Master Josan.

“What is the most expensive object in the world?”

“Sa-myo-a-du (死猫兒頭). It would be a dead cat’s skull.”

“For what reason a dead cat’s skull is most expensive?”

This is a way of studying to find an answer by putting the dualistic thinking of what is valuable and what is worthless to its maximum use.

Normally, a dead cat’s skull is a worthless object. However, the purpose is to take away the discriminating mind by eliminating dualistic thinking of defining objects as expensive or not. Seon masters enticed innocent cats to be trapped in a dried up well. Likewise, when monks are driven into desperation, they would struggle to escape. This is how the monks should practice. Such sense of crisis is necessary to motivate them to study what will transcend life and death.

           Seon Master Namjeon slashed the cat in half and Seon Master Josan spoke of a dead cat’s skull. These are the same examples when Sakyamuni Buddha held up a flower or Seon Master Gooji lifted his thumb. Thousands arms of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva are the same as Master Gooji’s single finger.

Seon Master Josan said the most expensive object in the world is ‘a dead cat’s skull.’ This “sa-myo-a-du” question allowed many practitioners study by using a dead cat as their hwadu. It was to find out why Seon Master Josan said the most expensive object in the world is a dead cat’s skull. During the summer retreat season, take a deeper look and investigate to solve the reason why the Seon Master Josan said such a dirty, useless and ugly object is the most expensive object. One must have an intrepid spirit to resolve this question during the summer retreat that without finding an answer for this question, one would never leave the Seon meditation hall.

There is no master to greet an unexpected guest very well

It is better to offer something false rather than true.

Summer retreat season, B.E. 2555(2011)