incident between a master and one or more disciples,
　　   which involves an understanding or experience of
　　   enlightened  mind.  The   incident  usually,  but  not
　　   always,  involves  dialogue.   When  the  incident  is
　　   remembered  and  recorded,  it   become  a  matter  of
　　   "public  record", which  is the  literal  meaning  of
　　   kung-an.   Often  what   makes   the  incident   worth
　　   recording  is that, as a result of the interchange, a
　　   disciple  has  had  as   awakening, an  experience  of
　　   enlightenment.  The disciple's  mind, if only  for an
　　   instant, transcends  attachment and logic, and sees a
　　   glimpse of wu,
　　  
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　　   emptiness, or Buddha-nature. At this instant,   there
　　   is a transmission of Mind 传心  between   master  and
　　   disciple.
　　　　  Master Chao-chou 赵州 (778-897), was asked by  a
　　   monk, "does a dog have Buddha-nature? ",   to  which
　　   the master replied, "Wu", meaning no,   nothing.   As
　　   kung-ans go, this is a basic one, but   possibly  the
　　   most famous. In some cases, there is no record of an
　　   awakening, but the story is  remembered   because  it
　　   contains, or expresses, meanings crucial to the
　　   understanding  of  enlightenment.　　 Here  is  another
　　   kungan, also involving Chao-chou.

　　　　  Chao-chou had a disciple who met an old woman on
　　   the road and asked her, "How do I get to   T'ai  Shan
　　   台山 (Mount T'ai)?" She said, "Just keep going."  As
　　   the monk started off, he heard the old lady   remark,
　　   "He really went!". Afterwards, the disciple mentioned
　　   this  to Chao-chou  who said, "I think  I'll  go over
　　   there and see for myself." When he met her, Chao-chou
　　   asked the same question, and she said the same thing"
　　   Just keep going." As Chao-chou   started off, he heard
　　   the  old  lady  say  again, "He  really  went!"  When
　　   Chao-chou  returned, he said, I've seen through  that
　　   old lady.  "What did Chao-chou find out about the old
　　   lady? What is the meaning of this lengthy and obscure
　　   kung-an?
　　　　  Kung-ans occurred very early  in  Ch'an  history 
　　   and simply become records of incidents between
　　   masters  and disciples  in the   context  of practice.
　　   These  kunt-ans  were  very much   alive, spontaneous.
　　   Around  the Sung  Dynasty   (960-1279)  Ch'an  masters
　　   began using kung-ans from the records aso investigate
　　   the meaning of the historical kung-an. In his attempt