Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings (109 page)

Guichen asked, “Where are you going?”

Fayan replied, “On an ongoing pilgrimage.”

Guichen said, “Why do you go on a pilgrimage?”

Fayan replied, “I don’t know.”

Guichen said, “Not knowing is most intimate.”

At these words Fayan instantly experienced enlightenment.

The record of Zen master Fayan Wenyi provides a different account of his encounter with Dizang and his subsequent awakening:

When the snow was gone, the three monks bade farewell and started to depart. Dizang accompanied them to the gate and asked, “I’ve heard you say several times that ‘the three realms are only mind and the myriad dharmas are only consciousness.’”

Dizang then pointed to a rock lying on the ground by the gate and said, “So do you say that this rock is inside or outside of mind?”

Fayan said, “Inside.”

Dizang said, “How can a pilgrim carry such a rock in his mind while on pilgrimage?”

Dumbfounded, Fayan couldn’t answer. He put his luggage down at Dizang’s feet and asked him to clarify the truth. Each day for the next month or so Fayan spoke about the Way with Dizang and demonstrated his understanding.

Dizang would always say, “The Buddhadharma isn’t like that.”

Finally, Fayan said, “I’ve run out of words and ideas.”

Dizang said, “If you want to talk about Buddhadharma, everything you see embodies it.”

At these words Fayan experienced great enlightenment.

Penetrating the great affair under Zen master Luohan Guichen, Fayan became his Dharma heir. He went on to establish one of the five traditionally recognized schools of Zen. The Fayan school style is popularly traced to Dizang’s teacher, Xuansha. However, Fayan successfully spread the school’s influence, and its teachings became synonymous with his name.

Fayan first taught at Chongshou Monastery in Linchuan. Later he resided at the Qingliang Monastery in Jinling, where his students are said to have numbered up to one thousand. During Fayan’s lifetime the regent of the Southern Song dynasty honored him with the title, “Great Teacher Peaceful Wisdom.” The school he established incorporated elements from the Huayan school of Buddhism, including the principle “in all things manifested.”

The great Zen adepts used everyday events and discourses as leavening for realization. Fayan was no exception. His recorded talks and actions demonstrate numerous examples of turning a pivotal phrase.

Fayan traveled to Linchuan, where the provincial governor invited him to become abbot of Chongshou Monastery. On dedication day, Fayan remained sitting in the tea hall and did not leave it.

A monk said to him, “Monks from everywhere are now crowded around the master’s Dharma seat waiting for you to speak.”

Fayan said, “In that case, the monks are practicing with a genuine worthy!”

After a while, Fayan ascended the Dharma seat.

A monk said, “The assembly has gathered. We ask the master to expound the Dharma.”

Fayan said, “You’ve all been standing here too long!”

Then he said, “Since all of you have assembled here, I can’t say nothing at all. So I’ll give you all an expedient that was offered by one of the ancients. Take care!”

Fayan then left the Dharma seat.

Once, when a monk was visiting Fayan, he pointed to a blind. Two monks went to roll it up. Fayan said, “One gain, one loss.”

A monk asked, “What was the style of the ancient buddhas?”

Fayan said, “Where can it not be completely seen?”

Fayan directed a monk to get soil for the lotus plant basin. When the monk came with the soil, Fayan said, “Did you get the soil from the east side or the west side of the bridge?”

The monk said, “From the east side.”

Fayan said, “It’s real. It’s illusory.”

Fayan asked the monk Jiao, “Did you come by boat or by land?”

Jiao replied, “By boat.”

Fayan said, “Where is the boat?”

Jiao said, “The boat is in the river.”

Jiao then left. Fayan turned to a monk standing to one side and asked, “Did that monk who was just here have the eye or not?”

Fayan asked a monk where he came from.

The monk said, “From Libai Dasheng [‘worship the great holy one’] in Sizhou.”

Fayan said, “Did the ‘great holy’ come out of his stupa this year or not?”

The monk said, “He came out.”

Fayan then asked a monk standing to one side, “Do you say he went to Sizhou or not?”