佛祖統紀 10.71

10.71

The commentary says: Luoxi's disciples numbered in the hundreds, yet the original biography designates Baoyun as the preeminent disciple, not recording Master Yu's name. It is suspected that Master Yu met Luoxi earliest, and was therefore transmitted the censer and fly-whisk early on. Baoyun arrived later, but greatly invigorated his Way; therefore, the biography promotes him as the head. Speaking from this perspective, it depends upon the Way, not upon the censer and fly-whisk. The censer and fly-whisk were the tokens of faith of the patriarchs; when an implement is transmitted for a long time, there cannot fail to be abuses: some obtain it through affection, some take it through force. What has that to do with the Way? Master Neng wished to transmit it to Fuzong, who declined and would not accept it; this was upright. Hiding it at the ancestral master's practice hall before departing was appropriate. Had Fuzong accepted it improperly and then improperly transmitted it, it would have served only to provoke disputes among later people. Where would the Way be in that?