The Sound of One Hand
A monk asked Hakuin, "
What is the sound of one hand clapping?" Hakuin said,
"Show me your one hand." The monk then raised one hand.
Hakuin said,
"That is not the sound of one hand." The monk was at a loss.
Later, the monk returned and thrust one hand toward Hakuin's face.
Hakuin said,
"You have heard a little, but not enough."
Reflection
Hakuin's sound of one hand challenges the student to demonstrate understanding through their entire being, not through words. When the monk raises one hand, Hakuin says that is not the sound. When he thrusts it forward, Hakuin says he has heard a little but not enough. The koan is not about producing a sound but about expressing one's whole existence without reservation.