The original face is a term in Zen Buddhism, pointing to one's real essence or Buddha-nature, one's 'real face'.Martin Goodson (April 14, 2021), A Sermon on the Original Face
Origins The phrase "original face" originates in Huangbo's Chuanhsin fayao (857) and the Hui-sin edition (967) of the Platform Sutra:
This question appears in case 23 of the Mumonkan:
This koan is transformed in the question
Interpretation According to Victor Hori, the "original face" points to "the nonduality of subject and object":
Comparable statements are: "Look at the flower and the flower also looks"; "Guest and host interchange".
According to Victor Hori, it is not "pure consciousness", as it is often understood in western thinking, reached by "cleaning the doors of perception":
Comments Zen masters have commented on the original face:
Artistic impressions
Philip Whalen The American poet Philip Whalen has written a poem, Metaphysical Insomnia Jazz Mumonkan xxix, inspired by the Original Face-koan:
Keith Kumasen has commented on this poem.
Stuart Davis The American Buddhist musician Stuart Davis has recorded a song called "Original Face". The chorus goes:
See also The "Five Ranks" of Tozan "Who is the master who sees and hears?"
Notes
References
Sources
External links TriCycle, Green Koans case 12: Original Face"