What Is The Huatou?

1. The huatou takes all existential questions and condenses them down to one essential existential question.

2. That essential question is: “Who am I?” or “What is Reality?”

3. Finally, it takes the essential question and compresses it, at best, into a single character. Like: “Who?” or “Wu?” or “What?”

Huatou vs. Mantra

1. A huatou is not a mantra. It’s the quintessence of self-inquiry. Whereas a mantra is rhythmically repeated and thus induces surrender, a huatou is gently yet firmly asked either when a thought arises or when the mystery is deepening.

2. A mantra is an affirmation. A huatou is neither an affirmation nor a negation; again, it’s a question–or, indeed, the very pith of all fundamental questions.

3. For a huatou places one in the mysterious presence of what is nearest. Not an object; not an other; and yet not fully intimately known. Who is nearest? What is this that’s not a this?

3. What’s at stake in a huatou is knowing, appercetively, the answer to the ultimate question.

For Whom Is Huatou Practice Suitable?

The huatou is especially well-suited for someone with a strong warrior ethos. One wants to “break through” to realize the Freedom of the Source. It’s not well-suited for someone with a strict jnana temperament or for someone who inclines naturally toward bhakti. 

One must be very steady (“composed,” says Dahui) while also keenly feeling that one’s hair on fire. One, to paraphrase Guofeng, can’t move an inch–for then one is seeking something. And one can’t wait for something to happen–for then one is expecting an event to occur in time. And one can’t just drop the thing, which is not a thing. The nearest must be pasted, or tattooed, to one’s face and butt at the same time.