佛祖歷代通載 18.78

18.78

Chan Master Fushan Fayuan passed away. He was a native of Putian in Zhengzhou, born of the Wang clan. At the age of nineteen he traveled to Bingzhou, where he visited Venerable Song of Sanjiao to seek the world-transcending Dharma. Song said, 'You should shave your hair and join the ranks of the Three Jewels; only then may the Dharma be conferred upon you.' Yuan asked, 'Does the Dharma distinguish between monk and layperson?' Song replied, 'Rather than remaining a layperson, how could it not be better to become a monk? It is because a monk can continue the Buddha's life-span.' Thereupon he cut his hair and received the full precepts. He paid homage to Venerable Zhao of Fenyang, and also to Venerable Sheng of Ruhai, receiving predictions [of enlightenment] from both. During the Tianxi reign era, he traveled through Xiang, Han, Sui, and Ying. Arriving at Dayang, his conversational dynamic accorded with Venerable Ming'an Yan. Yan sighed and said, 'I am old. Has the Dongshan lineage truly come to have no one left?' He showed him the direct-seamed robe and leather sandals he had worn throughout his life. Yuan said, 'I shall keep this robe and sandals for you, and seek someone to transmit them to—how would that be?' Yan consented, saying, 'In the future, if you indeed find the person, bring forth my gāthā to serve as proof.' The gāthā said: / 'The grass before Mount Yangguang: / Rely on you to await its value burning bright. / Where the rare sprout flourishes, / Deep and secret, its numinous root is firm.' / At the end it said: 'The one who attains the Dharma must remain concealed among the assembly for ten years; only then may he propagate it.' Yuan bowed, received it, and took his leave. He relied on Venerable Jue of Langya in Chu, and accepted an invitation to preach the Dharma at Taiping Xingguo Monastery in Shu, becoming Venerable Sheng's heir. Next he resided at Tianping in Guxu, and also resided at Fushan. Having grown old, he retired to Huisheng Rock. Yuan had jade-like bones protruding from his forehead and eyes whose light beamed outward, resembling an imperial scion, stern and imposing. Earlier, when Duke Ouyang Wenzhong heard of Yuan's extraordinary eminence, he visited his chamber but found nothing [yet] unusual about him; he was playing chess with a guest, and Yuan sat by his side. When Ouyang packed up the board, he asked Yuan to preach the Dharma using chess as an analogy. Yuan thereupon sounded the drum, ascended the seat, and said: 'If we discuss this matter, it is just like two opponents playing chess. What do I mean? When worthy opponents and discerning friends meet, facing the decisive moment neither yields. If one connects five stones or concedes three, and another path opens up, only then do you have someone of this kind. They only understand working behind closed doors, but know not how to seize corners and block the passes. Hard joints and the tiger's mouth appear simultaneously, but once the game is lost, in vain does one struggle to turn it around. Therefore it is said: A fat edge is easy to gain, but an empty belly is hard to find. When thinking before moving, one often loses cohesion; when the mind is coarse, one repeatedly bumps heads. Do not boast of being a national champion, nor speak vainly of immortals! Winning the game or losing counters—let us not speak of that now; tell me: when black and white are not yet divided, where does that single move fall?' After a long pause, he said: 'On the nineteen lines from of old, / How many people are deluded or enlightened?' Wenzhong sighed in admiration for a long time. Yuan's gāthās were subtle and profound, and all quarters admired their craftsmanship. He composed a praise for Venerable Song of Sanjiao: / 'Pure gold is beaten into brass chopsticks; / White jade is ground into an ivory comb. / The Thousand-Armed Great Compassionate One cannot lift it; / The Wordless Boy secretly sighs.' / He also composed a praise for Venerable Ming'an Xuan: / 'The black dog has shining silver hooves; / The white elephant is ridden by a Kunlun slave. / In these two there is no hindrance; / The wooden horse neighs amidst the fire.' / At the time of his death he was over seventy. He elegantly referred to himself as the 'Rustic of Chaishi'. (The rest is as in his individual biography.)