Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings (83 page)

XIYUAN SIMING

XIYUAN SIMING (n.d.) was a disciple of Baoshou Yanzhao. He lived and taught in Ruzhou. Little is recorded about Xiyuan in the main lamp records.

A monk asked Xiyuan, “What is a Zen monastery?”

Xiyuan said, “A forest of thorns.”

The monk then asked, “What is a person who lives there?”

Xiyuan replied, “A badger. A weasel.”

A monk asked, “What is something that is unchangeable?”

Xiyuan said, “A rock for pounding fabrics.”

A monk asked, “What is Linji’s shout?”

Xiyuan said, “A thirty-thousand-pound crossbow is not used on a mouse.” The monk said, “Where is the master’s compassion?”

Xiyuan hit him.

The monk Tianping Congyi came and stayed at Xiyuan’s place for ten days.

Congyi often said, “Don’t say that someone who understands the Buddhadharma seeks someone who can talk about it.”

Xiyuan heard this but said nothing.

Later, when Congyi went into the Dharma hall to speak, Xiyuan called out to him.

Congyi lifted his head.

Xiyuan said, “Wrong.”

Congyi came forward two or three steps.

Xiyuan said, “Wrong!”

Congyi walked to Xiyuan.

Xiyuan said, “These two mistakes just now, were they committed by you or by me?”

Congyi said, “They were committed by Congyi.”

Xiyuan said, “Wrong! Wrong!”

Xiyuan then said, “Stay here during the summer period, monk, and I’ll discuss these two mistakes with you.”

Congyi wouldn’t agree to this. He then left the monastery.

Later, when Congyi became the abbot on Mt. Tianping, he would always refer to this incident by saying, “When I was on pilgrimage an evil wind blew me to Ru Province. There, an old worthy named Xiyuan tested me. I made two mistakes, and he wanted me to remain there for the summer to discuss them. I wouldn’t say that I erred at that time. When I set out to travel south I understood the mistake.” ([Later,] Shoushan said, “If Congyi had such an understanding, then he didn’t see Xiyuan even in his dreams. Why is this? Discuss it.”)

ZIFU RUBAO

ZIFU RUBAO (n.d.) was a disciple of Xita Guangmu in the Guiyang lineage. Zifu taught at Zifu Temple in Jizhou. Little is recorded about Zifu’s background.

A monk asked, “What is the phrase that is in accordance with the great function?”

Zifu was silent.

A monk asked, “What is the essential mystery?”

Zifu said, “Close the door for me.”

A monk asked, “Luzu faced the wall. What was the meaning?”

Zifu said, “He never got involved.”

A monk asked, “What is the true transcendent eye?”

Zifu beat his chest and said, “Blue heavens! Blue heavens!”

The monk asked, “What problem is there with my question?”

Zifu said, “Misery.”

A monk asked, “What is the ultimate condition of a patch-robed monk?”

Zifu said, “Don’t go beyond
this
.”

A monk asked, “Please, Master, speak of what is before a monk’s question.”

Zifu exclaimed, “Ai!”