萬松老人評唱天童覺和尚頌古從容庵錄 5.37

5.37

The Master said: Chan Master Hong'en of Zhongyi in Langzhou (the Tongyao has Dingzhou) was one of Mazu's more than eighty great good friends, and the grand-uncle of Yangshan. Yangshan was ordained in Jiangling, and on his return went to express his gratitude for the precepts. Zhongyi, seeing Yangshan was young, used the monkey responding at the six windows to explain the meaning of the buddha-nature, like slapping a wet nurse to scare a child. Yangshan laid an ambush and engaged him in combat, unable to stifle his mirth. Having finished his bows of thanks, he said, 'Now, receiving the Venerable's metaphor, everything is clear. Yet there is still one matter: just when the inner monkey is dozing off, and an outer monkey wants to meet it, what then?' How extraordinary! A true lion's cub immediately exposes the claws and teeth of the Dharma den. Unawares, Zhongyi stepped down from the meditation seat, took Yangshan by the hand, danced, and said, 'Sing-sing and you have met each other!' Why not give another metaphor? Yunju Xi said, 'At that time, if Zhongyi had not obtained this phrase from Yangshan, where would there be a Zhongyi?' When our late master and Uncle Shengmo were in their twenties, the monasteries held them in awe. Venerable Bao of Zhengzhou was renowned throughout the Yellow and Luo rivers. Our late master made a pilgrimage and went to see him. Bao of Zhengzhou said, 'You brothers are young and handsome; it is just the right time to investigate and inquire. In my earlier years, thought after thought, I constantly took the Buddha-dharma as my business.' Our late master rose from his seat, stepped forward, and said, 'How is it with the Venerable now?' Bao said, 'Just like a mortal enemy.' Our late master said, 'If I had not obtained these words, I would almost have made a thousand-li journey in vain.' Bao descended from the meditation seat, grasped our late master's hand, and said, 'An adept!' Thereupon he kept him for several days. When Jiashan said, 'A single bean popping out of the dead ashes of the Buddha-sun,' he was referring to this. Xuanjue said, 'Were it not for Yangshan, how could Zhongyi be seen? And tell me: what is the place where Yangshan was able to see Zhongyi?' Wansong says: Upon the Dharma hall of Bao'en. Chongshou Chou said, 'Is there still anyone who can determine this principle? If it cannot be determined, it is merely the maneuvers of someone playing with a phantom spirit. Where is the meaning of the buddha-nature?' Wansong says: Discern it right in the maneuvers of someone playing with a phantom spirit. Fojian said, 'Yangshan acts the simpleton; Zhongyi peddles charm. The charm peddled is simple folly; the simple folly displayed is refined charm. Although the monkey is asleep, what can be done about the clarity inside its belly? Even if the six windows were blocked off completely, where would the sing-sings not meet each other?' Do you all wish to see the two elders' entanglement? Each has skin three inches thick. Wansong says: To seek someone who knows shame is impossible to find. Only the old man Tiantong is slightly better. The verse says: