Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings (58 page)

Zen master Moshan Liaoran of Ruizhou was a student of Gao’an Dayu. Once, the monk Guanxi Xian arrived at Mt. Mo and said, “If there’s someone here who’s worthy, I’ll stay here. If not, I’ll overturn the meditation platform!”

He then entered the hall.

Moshan sent her attendant to query the visitor, saying, “Your Reverence, are you here sightseeing, or have you come seeking the Buddhadharma?”

Guanxi Xian said, “I seek the Dharma.”

So Moshan sat upon the Dharma seat [in the audience room] and Xian entered for an interview.

Moshan said, “Your Reverence, where have you come from today?”

Guanxi said, “From the intersection on the main road.”

Moshan said, “Why don’t you remove your sun hat?”

Guanxi didn’t answer for some time. ([Later,] Shushan said, “The battle begins here.”) Finally, he [removed his hat, and] bowed, saying, “What about Mt. Mo? [Moshan].”

Moshan said, “The peak isn’t revealed.”

Guanxi said, “Who is the master of Mt. Mo?”

Moshan said, “Without the form of man or woman.”

Guanxi shouted, then said, “Why can’t it transform itself?”

Moshan said, “It’s not a god or a demon. So how could it become something else?”

Guanxi then submitted to become Moshan’s student. He worked as head gardener for three years.

A poor and thin monk came to study with Moshan.

Moshan said, “How thin you are!”

The monk said, “Even so, I’m still a lion cub!”
¹¹³

Moshan said, “Since you are a lion cub, why do you let Manjushri ride upon you?”

The monk didn’t answer. Then he asked, “What is the mind of the ancient buddhas?”

Moshan said, “The world is collapsing!”

The monk said, “Why is the world collapsing?

Moshan said, “It’s not my body.”

A Song dynasty writer penned a verse in praise of Moshan that is recorded in a classic Zen text named the
Guzunsu Yulu
.

Mt. Mo does not reveal its pure summit,
But through all time the pinnacle is before the eyes.
It’s said it has no male or female form,
But do distinguish the lotus amid the flames.
Without form, without mind, without intention,
Becoming male or female just accords with conditions,
These times are replete with monks and lay practitioners,
Each one shines with flawless incandescence.

YANYANG SHANZHAO

YANYANG SHANZHAO (n.d.) was one of the few students of Zhaozhou Congshen who went on to become recognized Zen teachers. Few details about his life remain. He lived and taught in Xinxing, located in ancient Hongzhou.

When Yanyang first met Zhaozhou, he asked, “When not even a single thing can be picked up, what then?”

Zhaozhou said, “Put it down.”

Yanyang said, “Since not a single thing can be taken up, how can it be put down?”

Zhaozhou said, “If you can’t put it down, then carry it away.”

Upon hearing these words Yanyang experienced great enlightenment.

After Yanyang assumed the abbacy of a temple, a monk asked him, “What is Buddha?”

Yanyang said, “A clump of dirt.”

The monk asked, “What is Dharma?”

Yanyang said, “The ground is moving.”

The monk asked, “What is Sangha?”

Yanyang said, “Eating porridge and rice.”

A monk asked, “What is Xinxing’s water?”
¹¹⁴

Yanyang said, “It’s in the river before your eyes.”

A monk asked, “What is ‘meeting a thing as it manifests’?”

Yanyang said, “Give me a meditation bench.”

Yanyang kept a snake and a tiger that would eat from his hand.

DONGSHAN LIANGJIE

DONGSHAN LIANGJIE (807–69) was a disciple of Yunyan Tansheng. He is recognized to have founded the Caodong school of Zen. This school, along with the Linji school, remains today as one of the two existing Zen schools that began in China during the Tang dynasty (618–905), the “golden age” of Zen. Dongshan came from ancient Huiji (in modern Zhejiang Province). A story relates how, as a youth, he read the Heart Sutra and came upon the words “No eye, no ear, no nose, no tongue, no body…” and asked his teacher, “I have eyes, ears, a nose, and so on. So why does the sutra say there is none?” The teacher was reportedly dumbfounded at the insight revealed by Dongshan’s question, and replied, “I can’t be your teacher.” He then sent the young prodigy to study under Zen master Limo at Mt. Wuxie.