2026-05-26 Nature Koans 4: Mumonkan Case 2, 'Hyakujo and the Fox'

About this episode

This episode discusses the koan of Hyakujo and the Fox, exploring themes of cause and effect through a folktale.

This koan takes the form of a folktale. An ancient teacher gives the wrong answer regarding cause and effect and must live 500 lives as a fox. Text: Shaping Text: Philosophy and Folklore in the Fox Koan by Steven Heine Of the Same Root: Animals and Our Relationship with them by Philip Kapleau.

Topics covered

• koans
• folktales
• cause and effect
• Buddhism
• philosophy
• animal symbolism

Keywords

• koan
• Hyakujo
• fox
• Buddhism
• cause and effect
• folktale
• philosophy
• Steven Heine
• Philip Kapleau

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Shaping Text: Philosophy and Folklore in the Fox Koan, Of the Same Root: Animals and Our Relationship with them

More episodes of AZC Weekly talks

• 2026-06-09 The Bodhisattva Precepts 1 · June 10, 2026 · 60 min
• 2026-04-21 Ahimsa · April 21, 2026 · 36 min
• 2026-04-07 Term Intensive Tips · April 8, 2026 · 41 min
• 2026-03-24 Peace and War · March 24, 2026 · 38 min
• 2026-02-10 Nature Koans 3: Wu-tsu's Buffalo Passes Through the Window · February 10, 2026 · 37 min
• 2026-01-27 The Three Fruits of Zen Practice · January 28, 2026 · 45 min