Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings (138 page)

Baiyun said, “Old Shakyamuni recited four great vows, which were:

Though the myriad beings are numberless, I vow to save them;
Though defilements rise endlessly, I vow to end them;
Though Dharma gates are innumerable, I vow to study them;
Though Buddha’s way is unsurpassed, I vow to embody it.

“I also have four great vows. They are:

When I’m hungry, I eat;
When it’s cold, I put on more clothes;
When I’m tired, I stretch out and sleep;
When it gets warm, I like to find a cool breeze.”

Zen master Shouduan addressed the monks, saying, “The ancients have passed down a few words, and before we penetrate them they are like an iron wall. Suddenly, one day, after we see through it, we know that we ourselves are an iron wall. What can be done to see though this question?”

Master Shouduan also said, “An iron wall! An iron wall!”

Zen master Shouduan addressed the monks, saying, “If you go all out and really work up a sweat, then when you see a single stalk of grass a jade palace is revealed. But if you don’t put forth this type of effort, then even if you have a jade palace, a single stalk of grass will confound you. How can you really work up a sweat like this? As long as your two hands are tired, you’ll never dance gaily in the three palaces.”
²⁰²

A monk asked Baiyun, “What is Buddha?”

Baiyun said, “A hot soup pot has no cool spot.”

A monk asked, “What is the great meaning of Buddhism?”

Baiyun said, “Push the gourd beneath the water.”

A monk asked, “Why did Bodhidharma come from the west?”

Baiyun said, “Birds fly, rabbits walk.”

A monk asked, “Praying to the holy ones, believing in one’s self—these are not the concerns of a monk. What are the concerns of a monk?”

Baiyun said, “Dead water does not conceal a dragon.”

The monk said, “And when it’s like that, then what?”

Baiyun said, “Gain kills you.”

BAONING RENYONG

BAONING RENYONG (n.d.) was a disciple of Yangqi Fanghui. He came from Siming (a place now in Zhejiang Province). As a young man he possessed a remarkably dignified appearance as well as extraordinary intelligence. He excelled at the study of Tiantai Buddhism. He later studied under the great Yunmen lineage teacher Xuedou Chongxian. Xuedou recognized the young man’s wonderful potential as a vessel for the Dharma, but offended Baoning by addressing him with a title akin to the English phrase “academic schoolmaster.” Baoning left Xuedou’s mountain with the vow, “I will continue in this life to travel on a pilgrimage to study Zen, and if I don’t find a teacher who surpasses Xuedou, I vow to never return home.”

Baoning traveled until he came to Yangqi Fanghui’s temple on Mt. Yungai. It is recorded that at their first meeting, Yangqi did not complete even a single sentence before Baoning attained the “mind-seal of illuminated awakening” (complete enlightenment).

After spending time at Mt. Yungai, Yangqi died, and Baoning set off to travel extensively with his Dharma brother and close friend Baiyun Shouduan. Eventually he settled and taught at the Baoning Temple at Jinling.

Zen master Baoning Renyong entered the hall to address the monks. The attendant lit incense [to present to the Buddha].

Baoning pointed to the attendant and said, “The attendant has already expounded the Dharma for all of you!”

Baoning addressed the monks, saying, “For more than twenty years I carried a pack and bowl, traveling everywhere within the four seas, studying with more than ten different Zen adepts. But I never caught a glimpse of my own house, and I was just like a senseless stone. All the worthies I practiced with couldn’t provide me a single positive benefit. During that entire time I didn’t learn a thing. But fortunately, my pitiable life was suddenly blown by the karmic winds into Jiangning, where, jostled by the crowd, I was pushed into an old run-down temple on a busy intersection. There, I just served as a ‘porridge vendor,’ receiving and helping everyone who came along. My duties never let up. There was sufficient salt and vinegar and there was enough gruel and rice. I passed some time in this fashion. I previously never imagined, even in a dream, that I would realize the Buddhadharma in this way.”