大慧普覺禪師宗門武庫 1.120

1.120

When Chan Master Doushuai Yue was leading the assembly at Daowu, Old Master Zhi was residing at Yungai. One day Yue led several dozen patch-robed monks to visit Zhi. Before they had exchanged a few sentences, Zhi knew the depth of Yue's attainment and said with a smile, "Seeing that the head monk's temperament is extraordinary, why is it that your speech and breathing are like a drunkard's?" Yue's face grew hot and sweat poured down. He said, "May the Venerable not begrudge your compassion." They spoke again shortly, and Zhi prodded and pierced him again. Yue was bewildered, and so he led his disciples to seek instruction and enter his room. Zhi smiled and said, "You, sir, lead the assembly and preach the Dharma. With my limited knowledge and experience, what benefit could I be to you?" Yue pleaded again and again. Zhi said, "This old monk has no fortune; my Way does not win people's trust. If I accept your bows, it will surely bring slander upon me another day." In the end he refused, and asked Yue, "Has the head monk ever seen Chan Master Fachang Yu?" He replied, "I once read his recorded sayings and understood by myself; I have no wish to see him." He asked again, "Have you ever seen Master Dongshan Wen?" He replied, "That fellow from Guanxi has no head or brains; dragging a cloth skirt that smells of urine, what excellence could he have?" Zhi said, "The head monk should just investigate into that smell of urine!" Following the instruction, Yue went to rely on Dongshan. Before long, he deeply grasped the profound import, and went again to see Old Zhi. Zhi said, "After seeing the fellow from Guanxi, how is the great matter?" Yue said, "Had I not received the Venerable's direction, I would almost have wasted my entire life." He then burned incense and bowed in gratitude. Later, when he assumed the abbacy, he became a dharma heir of Dongshan. In daily life he would admonish his disciples, recounting Old Yungai's words directing him to Dongshan: "You should serve Master Zhi as your teacher." Later, when Zhi passed away, Chan Master Zhao was residing at Doushuai; he was Yue's senior disciple. All of Zhi's funeral affairs were overseen by Zhao according to the rites of master and disciple, because he did not forget the entrustment.