Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings (29 page)

The monk hesitated.

Guizong hit him again.

The monk later went to Huangbo and told him about this previous exchange with Guizong.

Huangbo entered the hall and addressed the monks, saying, “Great Teacher Ma brought forth eighty-four people. But if some worthy asks them a question every one of them just wets his pants. Only Guizong is up to snuff!”

Governor Libo of Jiangzhou said to Guizong, “In the scripture it says that a mustard seed fits inside Mt. Sumeru. This I don’t doubt. But it also says that Mt. Sumeru fits inside a mustard seed. I’m afraid this is just foolish talk.”

Guizong said, “I’ve heard that Your Excellency has read thousands of scriptures. Is this so or not?”

The governor said, “Yes, it is true.”

Guizong said, “From top to bottom your head is about the size of a coconut. Where did all those scriptures go?”

The governor could only bow his head in deference.

On another occasion the governor asked Guizong, “What can someone learn from the great scriptural canon?”

Guizong raised his fist into the air and said, “Do you understand?”

Governor Libo said, “I don’t understand.”

Guizong said, “There’s still a big gap in your understanding! You don’t even understand a fist!”

The governor said, “Please, Master, explain it to me.”

Guizong said, “If you meet someone on the path, then give it to him. If you don’t meet anyone, then just disseminate the world’s truth.”

Zen master Guizong suffered from cataracts, and he applied a medicine to his eyes that caused them to turn red. Thereafter people called him “Red-eyed Guizong.” Later he passed away. He received the posthumous name “Zen Master Arrive at Truth.”

LAYMAN PANG, “PANGYUN”

LAYMAN PANG (740–808) was the most famous lay Zen Buddhist in Chinese Zen history. He came from Hengyang (in southern Hunan Province). Pangyun studied and gained realization under both of the great teachers of his era, Shitou and Mazu. Pangyun’s wife and daughter were also Zen adepts, and stories about this entire lay household’s attainment of the Way are unique in the lamp records.

Layman Pang’s friends included the famous nonconformist Zen adept, Danxia Tianran. He also was well acquainted with other celebrated Zennists of the era, such as Yaoshan, Luopu, and Yangshan.

In 785, Pangyun began study under Shitou Xiqian. He soon attained a breakthrough recognized by his teacher.

[In the year 785] Pangyun met Zen master Shitou.

He asked him, “Who is the one who is not a companion to the ten thousand dharmas?”

Shitou quickly covered Pangyun’s mouth with his hand.

Pangyun suddenly had a realization.

One day, Shitou asked, “What have you been doing each day since we last saw each other?”

Pangyun said, “If you ask about daily affairs, then nothing can be said.”

Pangyun then recited the verse whose last two lines are widely quoted:

How miraculous and wondrous,
Hauling water and carrying firewood.

Later, upon meeting Mazu, Pangyun penetrated deeper into the Way.

Layman Pang asked Mazu, “Who is the one who is not a companion to the ten thousand dharmas?”

Mazu said, “When you swallow all of the water in the West River in one gulp, then I’ll tell you.”

Hearing these words, Layman Pang fully realized the mystery. He then stayed and practiced under Mazu for two years. Pangyun wrote a verse that said:

A man unmarried,
A woman unbetrothed,
Happily they are brought together,
They both speak without saying words.

Layman Pang attended a reading of the Diamond Sutra. When the speaker reached the phrase, “No self. No other,” Layman Pang called out, “Speaker! If there is no self and no other, then who is lecturing and who’s listening to it?”

The speaker was dumbstruck.

Layman Pang said, “I’m just a common person, but I’ll offer you my crude understanding.”

The speaker said, “What is the layman’s idea?”

Pangyun answered with this verse:

No self, no other,
Then how could there be intimate and estranged?
I advise you to cease all your lectures.
They can’t compare with directly seeking truth.
The Diamond Wisdom nature
Erases even a speck of dust.
“Thus I have heard,” and “Thus I believe,”
Are but so many words.

Once, Layman Pang asked his daughter, Ling Zhao, “Some ancient said, ‘Clear and brilliant are the meadow grasses. Clear and brilliant is the meaning of the ancestral teachers.’ How do you understand this?”

Ling Zhao said, “So old and great, and yet you talk like this!”

Layman Pang said, “What would you say?”

Ling Zhao said, “Clear and brilliant are the meadow grasses, clear and brilliant is the meaning of the ancestral teachers.”

Layman Pang laughed.

When Pangyun and his family attained the Way, they are said to have taken all their possessions, put them in a boat, and sunk them in a river.