Wúmén Huìkāi
Linji Chan · 1183–1260
“The Great Way has no gate. There are a thousand paths to it.”
Wúmén Huìkāi was a Chinese Chan master of the Song dynasty and the compiler of the Mumonkan (Gateless Gate) — the most influential koan collection in Zen history.
He spent six years sitting with the single word Mu before his own breakthrough. He insisted real practice required a “great doubt” carried in the body day and night.
Mushin’s coach is named Mu after this collection — The Gateless Gate is the source of the app’s entire framing.
Key teachings
The Great Doubt
Sit with the koan day and night until your whole body is one inquiry. Without doubt, no gate opens.
The Gateless Gate
The barrier is not somewhere outside. The one looking for the gate is the gate itself.
Notable works
The Mumonkan (Gateless Gate)
48 koans with commentary and verse. The foundational koan collection of Zen.
One teaching like this each morning — and Mu, a companion who remembers your path.
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