Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings (67 page)

When Sansheng arrived at Mt. De, he started to arrange his sitting [meditation] items when Deshan said, “Don’t put out your meal apron. There’s no rice here.”

Sansheng said, “Although it’s here, it can’t be shown.”

Deshan took his staff and made to strike Sansheng. Sansheng grabbed it and pushed Deshan onto the meditation platform. Deshan laughed loudly.

Sansheng shouted and went out.

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

Sansheng said, “Spoiled meat draws flies.” ([Later,] Xinghua Cunjiang said, “An injury on the back of a donkey is full of green flies.”)

The following two passages are recorded about Sansheng in the
Transmission of the Lamp
.

When Sansheng was at Xuefeng’s, he heard Xuefeng give a teaching that “all persons without exception have an ancient mirror. This monkey has an ancient mirror.”

Sansheng stepped forth and said, “For endless kalpas it has been nameless. Why does the master propose it to be an ancient mirror?”

Xuefeng said, “It’s because of defective existence.”

Sansheng said, “As for me, I don’t see where you came up with this.”

Xuefeng said, “My mistake! I have many duties as abbot.”

Sansheng watched as Baoshou entered the lecture hall. When Baoshou passed by, Sansheng shoved another monk out in front of him. Baoshou hit the monk.

Sansheng said, “If the elder treats people in this manner, then he’s blind, even though the eyes of everyone in Zhenzhou City are here.”

TONGFENG ANZHU

TONGFENG ANZHU (n.d.) was a student of Linji. Like many other disciples of that master, his origins are obscure. During the era of Linji’s life, the persecution of Buddhists caused the loss of many contemporary records. The
Transmission of the Lamp
provides a few dialogues involving Tongfeng.

A monk asked Tongfeng, “Master, if you suddenly encountered a huge tiger here, what would you do?”

The master made a roaring noise. The monk acted as though he were scared. The master laughed out loud.

The monk said, “You old thief.”

Tongfeng said, “How can you fight this old monk?”

A monk came to the front of Tongfeng’s hut, then started to leave.

Tongfeng called out, “Your Reverence! Your Reverence!”

The monk turned his head and then shouted.

Tongfeng didn’t speak.

The monk said, “So the old fellow is dead.”

Tongfeng then hit him. The monk didn’t speak.

The master laughed, “Ha, ha, ha!”

A monk entered the hut and grabbed Tongfeng.

Tongfeng yelled, “Murder! Murder!”

The monk let loose of him, saying: “What’s the use of shouting?”

The master said, “Who are you?”

The monk shouted.

The master hit him.

The monk went out and turned his head as he went away, saying: “Just wait. Just wait.”

Tongfeng laughed out loud.

XITA GUANGMU

XITA GUANGMU (n.d.) was a student of Yangshan Huiji. He succeeded his teacher and taught on Mt. Yang. Little is recorded about his life. The
Transmission of the Lamp
offers the following brief accounts of his teachings.

A monk asked, “What is upright listening?”

Xita said, “It doesn’t enter through your ear.”

The monk said, “How can that be?”