Today

Feminist pioneer Hiratsuka Raichō [平塚 らいちょう], before finding the strenght and direction to use her energy, engaged in zen retirement during her youth, after graduating from college and finding herself aimless and restless. Thus she recalls:

At the end of the interview I was given permission to train and assigned my first kōan: What was your original face before your parents were born? What was your face before you were born, before your parents were born, yes, before the sun, moon, and stars came into existence? (...) After this with barely a word of explanation, he shook a small handbell and dimissed me. I was utterly confused but could not do anything but leave the room.