Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings (100 page)

A monk asked, “What is a monk’s affair?”

Xianglin said, “In the twelfth month, fire engulfs the mountain.”

A monk asked, “What is the monk’s true eye?”

Xianglin said, “No separation.”

Xianglin entered the hall and addressed the monks, saying, “All of you who’ve been carrying your pack and bowl and have come here on pilgrimage, do you see self-nature yet or not? If you’ve seen it, then come forward to speak. We’ll check you out and see! If you haven’t seen it, then you’ve been cheated on your journey. So I ask all of you—you’ve been practicing for some time now, mindfully sweeping the ground and boiling tea, hiking in the mountains and enjoying the rivers, and you’ve got it nailed down, right? What do you call self-nature?

“All of you say, ‘From beginning to end there is no change and no deviation, no high and no low, no good and no bad, no birth and no death.’ But do you actually know this place? Do you know what this actually is?

“If right here you know the place, then it’s the realized Dharma gate of all the buddhas. It is awakening to the Way and seeing self-nature, from start to finish without doubt or design. And if you go off traveling no one will question you. Then the words you’re spitting out will have some actual basis in understanding.

“If a person were to buy a rice field, then he must get the original title to the property. If he can’t get the original title then the whole situation is uncertain. Then, if there’s any official inquiry about it, the person won’t be able to hold on to it. If a person can’t get the original title document then someone else will take the property away from him.

“All of you here who are practicing Zen and studying the Way, you’re also like this! Who here has managed to get the original title? Bring it out and let’s see it! What is this thing you’re calling the original title? Let everyone see it! If you’re clever, then when you hear me speak in this manner you’ll know what to do. If you don’t know what to do then even if you go somewhere and learn a thousand strategies and memorize solutions until your mouth overflows like a river, it still won’t avail you anything. You’ll still be as far from yourself as the sky is from the earth. Go look right underneath your bowl and your clothes, at your very body. And if you see something, then come up here and speak and we’ll examine it. I’ll confirm what you say. If you can’t find anything then you’re just passing your time like everyone else.”

When Zen master Xianglin Chengyuan was about to die, he bade farewell to an official named Song Gongdang, saying, “I’m going on a pilgrimage.”

But [a different official] said, “That monk is crazy. Where’s he going on a pilgrimage when he’s eighty years old?”

But Song Gongdang replied, “When a venerable master goes on a pilgrimage, he goes or abides freely.”

Xianglin Chengyuan addressed the congregation, saying, “For forty years I’ve hammered out a single piece.”

When he finished speaking these words he passed away. His stupa was built near the monastery.

FENGXIAN DAOSHEN

FENGXIAN DAOSHEN (n.d.) was a student of Yunmen Wenyan. Little is known of his life. He taught at Baoning Temple in what is now Nanjing City during the latter half of the tenth century. During the years 943 to 984 the temple was named “Fengxian.”

This period of time coincided with the final years of the life of Zen master Fayan Wenyi, the founder of the Fayan school of Zen. Fayan lived and taught at nearby Qingliang Temple.

The governor of Jiangnan invited Zen master Daoshen to assume the abbacy of Fengxian Temple and to preside at its dedication ceremonies.

As Daoshen ascended the seat, the temple director struck the gavel and said, “Assembled worthies! Behold the first principle!”

Daoshen said, “Actually I know nothing whatsoever. My ignorance is deadly!”

A monk came forward and asked, “What is the first principle?”

Daoshen said, “I just spoke of it.”

The monk said, “How should it be understood?”

Daoshen said, “Quick, bow three times.”

Then Daoshen said, “Everyone! Tell me! Now who is demonstrating his ignorance?”

Zen master Fengxian and a monk named Ming were among an assembly at Fayan Wenyi’s congregation, and they heard a monk ask Fayan the question, “What is form?”

Fayan lifted his whisk into the air.

Then Fayan said, “Cockscomb.”

Then Fayan said, “A sweaty robe pressed to your skin.”

Fengxian and Ming went forward and asked to address Fayan.

They asked him, “We have just heard the master express form in three ways. Is this not so?”

Fayan said, “Yes.”

Fengxian said, “The hawk has flown past Korea.”

He then retreated into the congregation.

At that time a certain person named Li Wang was in the assembly. He did not like Fengxian’s statement.

Li Wang said to Fayan, “Tomorrow, I will invite these two to come here for tea and we can discuss this again.”

The next day after tea, Li Wang was prepared with an embroidered box and some “sword speech.”

He addressed Fengxian and Ming, saying, “If you two worthies can ask the appropriate question, then I’ll present you with the embroidered box. If you can’t, you get the ‘sword speech.’”

Fayan then ascended the Dharma seat.

Fengxian again came forward from the congregation and addressed Fayan, saying, “Today I would like to pose another question. Will you permit this, Master?”

Fayan said, “Yes.”

Fengxian then said, “The hawk has flown past Korea.”

Fengxian then picked up the box and went out. In a few moments the congregation dispersed.

At that time a monk named Fadeng was acting as temple director. He rang the bell to call the monks for a meeting in front of the monks’ hall. Fengxian, Ming, and the monks assembled there.

Fadeng then said, “I understand that you two worthies resided for a long while at Yunmen’s place. What special teaching do you have? Tell us a thing or two and we’ll discuss it.”

Fengxian said, “An ancient said that ‘when the white egret lands in the field it’s like a thousand snowflakes, and when the oriole alights on a tree a branch blooms.’ How would the director discuss this?”

The temple director was hesitant. Fengxian hit a sitting cushion and retreated into the crowd.

Once, Fengxian and Ming traveled together to the Huai River. They saw a man pull in a fishing net. Some fish were leaping out of the net and escaping. Fengxian said, “Brother Ming! What a sight! It’s just like what a monk does!”

Ming said, “You’re right. But it would be better if they didn’t get caught in the net in the first place.”

Fengxian said, “Brother Ming, your realization is still lacking.”

During the middle of the following night, Ming attained enlightenment.