-- Tao-wu's Greatest Depth --

Zen Master Tao-wu was sitting on the high seat of meditation when a monk came and asked, "What is the greatest depth of the teaching?"
(Means what is the ultimate truth?)
Tao-wu came down from the seat to kneel on the floor saying, "You are here after traveling from afar, but I am sorry to have nothing to answer you."

Later on Zen Master Fugai commented on this story : "Look out, brother! You are endangering yourself in the deep sea."
Later on Zen Master Nyogen said: "Yes, it is true. This monk does not realize his danger even though he is on the verge of drowning."

----!!!!----

There are multiple aspects of this story:
First : None of the answers to this question can be real answer. Each answer will give rise to thousand and one more questions and the original question will still remain unanswered. Understand this! If you ask me "Is there any God?", I can say either Yes or No. But whatever answer I give you, will give rise to thousand and one more questions. None of the answer is the real answer. And there are people who have faith on some answers and they have become so clinged to their answers that they find out all kinds of rationalization that their answer is right. Someone is theist, he believes in God. He can give you hundreds of rationalization for his answer. Someone is atheist, he doesn't believe in God. He can also give you hundred of rationalization for his answer. If you refute their answers, they will become angry with you because their answers are very superficial. Deep down they are suffering from their ignorance. By refuting those answers you are unveiling their ignorance. This very anger is the proof that they don't know the answer. They just believe that their answer is correct. This very anger is the proof of their ignorance.
No! Zen doesn't give you any new kind of answer. You are already filled with lot of answers. Zen is the art of making you empty of all the answers, making you empty of all the words and diving deep in silence.
Second : 'THAT' cannot be given by someone else. 'THAT' you have to find in your own meditation.
Third : The monk missed the lively truth in the master. He was looking for some words. This is how people have missed the Buddhas. They see them, they hear them, yet they miss them.
Meditate! Don't waste time in rationalizing your answers or seeking the answers outside. Without meditating, your answers may become right but YOU yourself will remain wrong!!!

--Matter of extraordinary wonder--

Zen Master Hyakujo's monastery was located on Daiyû Mountain.
A monk once asked Hyakujô, "What is the matter of extraordinary wonder?" 
Hyakujô said,"Sitting alone on Daiyû Peak!" 
The monk made a deep bow. Hyakujô thereupon hit him!

----!!!!----

No one can give you the truth. You have to meditate yourself. By practicing meditation you start living in the present moment. This is why master hit him to imply that no one can give anyone the truth!

-- The Seat --

A monk asked, "Teachers of our order say to 'abide' by sitting in the bodhi seat. What is the seat?"

Zen Master Changsha said, "Just now I'm sitting. Just now you're standing."

----!!!!----

Being in the present moment is the Bodhi seat!!

-- The Most Important Principle of Zen --

A monk besought Zen Master Zhaozhou to tell him the most vitally important principle of Zen.

The master, excusing himself: "I must now go to make water. Think even such a trifling thing I have to do in person."

----!!!!----

These Zen Masters are themselves insane and will drive us crazy too! Master Joshu was such a famous Zen Master contemporary to Rinzai, though he did not use physical beating and shouting like Rinzai. Yet why did he not tell clearly about Zen? I suspect he doesn't understand the Buddhadharma at all!!! :)

-- The Hungry Man --

Zen Master Baizhang Huaihai (720-814) said to the assembly, "There is someone who never eats but doesn't say he's hungry; there is someone who eats all day but doesn't say he's full."
No one could answer this.

-- Open The Eyes --

The monk Changzi Kuang once returned from a pilgrimage to continue his study with Master Shitou.  The master asked him, “Where have you been?”

    Kuang said, “To Master Huineng's memorial shrine at Caoxi.”

    The master asked, “Did visiting there bring you any merit?”

    Kuang said, “I've had some insight, but I haven't been able to 'open the eyes' of the awakened one.”

    The master said, “Do you want to 'open the eyes'?”

    Kuang said, “Please, master, help me do so.”

    The master suddenly kicked out his leg right at the monk.

    Kuang had a deep realization, and made a prostration.

    The master asked, “Why do you bow?”

    Kuang said, “It's like a flake of snow landing on a red-hot furnace.”

-- Where Are You? --

Minister Pei Xiu came to visit Open Source Monastery.  When the head monk came to greet him, Pei pointed to a portrait on the wall and asked, “What is that?”

    The monk said, “It's the portrait of a famous high priest.”

    Pei said, “I can see the portrait, but where is the priest?”

    The monk couldn't answer.  Pei said, “Isn't there a Zen person in this monastery?”

    The monk went to get Master Huangbo.  When the master arrived Pei said, “I have a question, but no one's able to answer.”

    The master said, “Please ask the question.”

    Pei said, “The portrait can be seen, but where is the high priest?”

    The master suddenly shouted, “Pei Xiu!”

    Pei said, “Yes?”

    The master said, “Where are you?”

    Pei Xiu immediately understood.