Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings (32 page)

A monk asked Zen master Luzu Baoyun of Chizhou, “Who are all the buddhas and saints?”

Baoyun said, “Not the ones with crowns on their heads.”

The monk said, “Then who are they?”

Baoyun said, “The ones without crowns.”

When Dongshan came to pay his respects, he bowed, stood up, and stood there attentively. After a while he went out and then came back in.

Luzu said, “Just so! Just so! So it’s like this.”

Dongshan said, “There are many who don’t approve.”

Luzu said, “Why must you speak contentiously?”

Dongshan then bowed.

A monk asked, “What is speechless speech?”

Zen master Luzu said, “Where is your mouth?”

The monk said, “I have no mouth.”

Luzu said, “Then what do you use to eat?”

The monk didn’t answer. ([Later,] Dongshan spoke in the monk’s behalf, saying, “He wasn’t hungry. What rice would he eat?”)

Whenever Zen master Luzu would see a monk coming he would face the wall. (When Nanquan heard about this he said, “I usually say to the monks, ‘You must comprehend what is before the Buddha appears in the world.’ But until now there hasn’t been a single one, or even a half of one, who understands. If he acts like this he’ll keep on going right through the year of the ass!” Xuanjue said, “Is Nanquan going along with Luzu or not?” Baofu asked Changqing, “If everyone was like Luzu, then there’d be no records at all! Isn’t this what Nanquan was saying?” Changqing said, “Acceding to people in this way! You can’t find one in ten thousand like this!” Luoshan said, “If old teacher Chen [Muzhou Daoming] had seen him he would have given him five hot jabs on the back! Why? Because he lets it out but doesn’t take it in.” Xuansha said, “If I’d been there, I would have given him five hot jabs on the back too!” Yunju Ci said, “Luoshan and Xuansha talking like this—which one is right? If you can sort it out, then I’ll agree that your Dharma skills are proficient.” Xuanjue said, “But about these five jabs by Xuansha—can they reach Luzu?”)

ZHONGYI HONGEN

ZHONGYI HONGEN (n.d.) was a disciple of Mazu. Little information is available about Zhongyi’s life. He taught at Zhongyi Temple in Langzhou (now the city of Nanchang in Jiangxi Province). He is honored as one of the foremost of Mazu’s spiritual heirs. Whenever Zhongyi saw a monk coming, he would tap his own mouth with his hand, making a “woo, woo” sound.

The
Wudeng Huiyuan
tells of a meeting between Zhongyi and his student Yangshan shortly after Yangshan received the precepts.

Yangshan came to the hall to thank Zhongyi [for conferring the precepts upon him]. As Zhongyi sat on the meditation platform, he patted his mouth, making a “woo, woo” sound. Yangshan walked to the east end of the hall and stood there. Then he went to the west end of the hall and stood there. Then Yangshan went to the center of the hall and stood. He then bowed to Zhongyi for having received the precepts. Afterward, he stepped back and stood there.

Zhongyi said, “Where did you receive this samadhi?”

Yangshan said, “I learned it from Tuo Yinzi of Cao Xi.”

Zhongyi said, “Are you saying that Caoxi used this samadhi to greet people?”

Yangshan said, “When he received the ‘Overnight Guest,’ he used this samadhi. Master, where did you learn your samadhi?”

Zhongyi said, “I learned this samadhi at Great Teacher Ma’s.”

Yangshan said, “How do you see buddha nature?”

Zhongyi said, “Well, let’s say there was a room with six windows. Inside the room is a monkey. From the east side another monkey screeches through the window, ‘eeeh, eeeh!’ The monkey inside then responds, ‘eeeh, eeeh!’ The monkey outside screeches into each of the six windows and the monkey inside responds each time.”

Yangshan bowed and then said, “I understand everything in the metaphor you’ve presented, but there’s one more thing. What if the monkey inside is asleep and the monkey outside wants it to look at him? Then what?”

Zhongyi got off the platform, grabbed Yangshan’s hands, and did a dance, exclaiming, “Eeeh! Eeeh! We see each other! It’s like hearing a tiny mite that has a nest in the eyelash of a mosquito calling out in the middle of a busy intersection! In the wasteland people are sparse. You see few of them!” ([Later,] Yunju Ci said, “At that time if Zhongyi had not heard Yangshan’s speech, then where would he be?” Chongshou Zhou said, “Are there still people who can confirm what was said? If they can’t, then they are just animated ghosts. Where is the essential buddha nature?” Xuansha said, “If not Yangshan, then can Zhongyi be seen? What is the place where Yangshan can see Zhongyi?”)

WUJIU YOUXUAN

WUJIU YOUXUAN (n.d.) was a disciple of Mazu. His life is obscure. Wujiu’s harsh teaching method, incorporating beatings, provides evidence of the fierce and aggressive style of teaching that Mazu passed to his disciples.

The monks Xuan and Shao came to practice with Zen master Wujiu.

The master asked them, “Where have you two Zen guests come from?”

Xuan said, “Jiangxi.”

Wujiu hit him.

Xuan said, “Long have I heard of the master’s great function.”

Wujiu said, “Since you don’t understand, let’s see how that monk behind you can do.”

Shao started to come forward when Wujiu suddenly hit him also, saying, “I don’t believe that one hole has two kinds of dirt. Go to the monks’ hall!”

Zen master Wujiu asked a monk, “Where have you come from?”

The monk said, “From Ding Province.”

Wujiu said, “How does the Zen school of Ding Province compare with here?”

The monk said, “It’s the same.”

Wujiu said, “If it’s the same then turn around and go back there!”

Wujiu then hit the monk.

The monk said, “If the staff has eyes it does not recklessly hit people.”

Wujiu said, “I hit one today.”

He then hit the monk three times. The monk then began walking out of the room.

Wujiu said, “People have always received unjust beatings.”

The monk stopped and said, “Why is it that the handle is always in the master’s hand?”

Wujiu said, “If you want, this mountain monk will give it to you.”

The monk came forward and grabbed the staff, then hit Wujiu three times.

Wujiu said, “No fair! No fair!”

The monk said, “Someone’s getting it!”