Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings (51 page)

Linji’s disciple, Sansheng, said, “How could we dare destroy the master’s
Treasury of the True Dharma Eye
?”

Linji said, “In the future if someone asks about my teaching, what will you say to them?”

Sansheng shouted.

Linji said, “Who would have thought that my
Treasury of the True Dharma Eye
would be destroyed by this blind ass!”

Upon saying these words Linji passed away, sitting upright.

MUZHOU DAOMING, “CHEN ZUNSU”

MUZHOU DAOMING (780–877) was a disciple of Huangbo Xiyun. He lived and taught at Kaiyuan Temple in ancient Muzhou.
¹⁰²
Muzhou’s surname was Chen. He was widely known in China by the name “Honored Elder Chen.” The
Wudeng Huiyuan
records that as a youth he went to a temple to offer incense to Buddha, and upon seeing the monks, he felt as though he had known them from some ancient time. He then returned home and received permission from his parents to become a monk. He looked unusual, with foreboding eyes and seven pockmarks on his face. As a young man Muzhou first studied the Vinaya and was well acquainted with Buddhist scriptures. Later, when he traveled, he met with Huangbo and eventually became his Dharma heir. Muzhou also played a key role in the story of Linji’s enlightenment. He later taught the great Zen master Yunmen Wenyan.

Muzhou possessed a severe teaching style. None but the most confident students dared to address him. It is said he could tell the disposition of a student by the student’s footsteps as he approached his room. When the student came near, Muzhou would often slam the door shut and yell, “Nobody’s here!” If the master would see a monk talking in the meditation hall he’d call the head monk and say, “That monk’s a lumber carrier!”

At one time, during the chaos of the Huang Chao uprising, Muzhou took up residence in his old home and supported his mother by fixing sandals. A legend says that he placed a pair of sandals on the city gate to advertise his service. Huang Chao and his forces entered the city, and Huang Chao himself tried to take the sandals off of the gate, but they magically could not be picked up. This shocked the rebel leader, and he is reported to have said, “A holy person lives in this city!” The frightened bandit leader and his forces then fled the city in fear.

One day, Zen master Muzhou said to his congregation, “Has any one of you gained an entrance? If you haven’t gained an entrance then that’s what you must do. If you gain an entrance then you won’t show ingratitude toward me.”

A monk bowed and said, “I don’t dare have ingratitude toward you.”

Muzhou said, “You’ve already shown ingratitude.”

Muzhou said, “Since I’ve been abbot, I’ve never seen someone without an issue come before me. Why can’t one of you come forward?”

A monk then came forward. Muzhou said, “The temple director isn’t here. So take yourself out the front gate of the monastery and get twenty hits with the staff.”

The monk said, “What did I do wrong?”

Muzhou said, “Your head’s already in a
cangue
and now you’ve put on manacles.”
¹⁰³

Muzhou asked a monk, “Where do you come from?”

The monk said, “From Liuyang.”

Muzhou said, “What does the teacher there say when a student asks him about the great meaning of the Buddhadharma?”

The monk said, “He says, ‘Traveling everywhere without a path.’”

Muzhou said, “Does that teacher really say that or not?”

The monk said, “He really does say that.”

Muzhou took his staff and struck the monk, saying, “This fool just repeats words!”

One day Muzhou was standing on a corridor path in the monastery.

A monk came up to him and asked, “Where is Abbot Muzhou’s room?”

Muzhou took off a sandal and hit himself on top of the head.

The monk walked off.

Muzhou yelled, “Worthy!”

The monk turned his head.

Muzhou pointed and said, “It’s that way!”

The head monk came to Muzhou for an interview.

Muzhou said, “Can you expound on the consciousness-only doctrine?”
¹⁰⁴

The monk said, “I dare not.”

Muzhou said, “In the morning, traveling to the Western Paradise.
¹⁰⁵
In the evening, returning to the land of Tang. Do you understand?”

The head monk said, “I don’t understand.”

Muzhou said, “Oh! Oh! Not upholding five precepts!”
¹⁰⁶

A “purple robed” worthy came to visit Muzhou.

When he bowed, Muzhou grabbed the string that hung from his hat and said, “What is this called?”

The monk said, “It’s called a facing heaven hat.”

Muzhou said, “Oh, in that case I won’t pull it off.”

Muzhou also said, “What doctrine do you expound?”

The monk said, “The consciousness-only doctrine.”

Muzhou said, “What do you say of it?”

The monk said, “The three worlds are only mind. The myriad dharmas are only consciousness.”

Muzhou pointed to the door screen and said, “What’s that?”

The monk said, “A form dharma.”

Muzhou said, “In front of the screen you received the purple robe and expounded scripture to the emperor. Why can’t you uphold the five precepts?”

The monk couldn’t answer.

A newly arrived monk bowed to Muzhou.

Muzhou yelled at him, “Why have you stolen the fruit that has been here so long?”

The monk said, “Master, I’ve just arrived here. How can you speak of stealing fruit?”

Muzhou said, “I see the stolen goods!”