釋氏稽古略 3.205

3.205

Layman Pang. Layman Pang Yun of Xiangzhou was a native of Hengyang County in Hengzhou, styled Daoxuan. His family had originally been scholars of Confucianism. When young, he realized the weariness of worldly dust and resolved to seek the ultimate truth. At the beginning of the Zhenyuan era of Dezong, he visited Chan Master Shitou Qian and asked: 'Who is the one who does not take the myriad phenomena as companion?' Shitou covered Pang's mouth with his hand; he was suddenly awakened. Later, he became friends with Chan Master Danxia Tianran. One day, Shitou asked: 'How are your daily affairs?' The Layman said: 'If you ask about daily affairs, there is no place to open the mouth.' He then presented a verse: / 'Daily affairs are no different, / Only I myself naturally harmonize. / In everything, nothing is grasped or rejected; / Everywhere, nothing is discordant. / Who calls things vermilion or purple? / The hills and mountains are without a speck of dust. / Spiritual powers and wondrous functions: / Carrying water and hauling firewood.' / Shitou approved of it. Soon afterward, Shitou said: 'Will you wear black (as a monk) or white (as a layman)?' The Layman said: 'I wish to follow what I desire.' Thereupon he did not shave his head or dye his robes. Later, he visited Mazu and asked: 'Who is the one who does not take the myriad phenomena as companion?' Mazu said: 'Wait until you swallow all the water of the West River in one gulp, then I will tell you.' At these words, the Layman suddenly awakened to the profound intent, and thus placed himself among Mazu's disciples. He remained to study for two years, and composed a verse: / 'Having a son, do not marry him off; / Having a daughter, do not wed her. / All gathered harmoniously together, / We speak of the unborn.' / His quick wit and eloquence stood out, and people everywhere turned to him. By the sixth year of the Yuanhe era, he traveled north to Xianghan, dwelling wherever he went. He had a daughter named Lingzhao, who sold bamboo straining baskets to provide for their daily needs. While the Layman was seated, he asked Lingzhao: 'An ancient said: "Clearly on the tips of the hundred grasses; clearly the intention of the ancestral masters." How do you understand this?' The daughter said: 'So old and venerable, yet you utter such words!' The Layman said: 'What about you?' The daughter said: 'Clearly on the tips of the hundred grasses; clearly the intention of the ancestral masters.' The Layman smiled. Once, while descending a bridge, the Layman stumbled and fell. Seeing this, the daughter also went beside the Layman and fell down. The Layman said: 'What are you doing?' The daughter said: 'Seeing father fall to the ground, Lingzhao came to support you.' When the Layman was about to pass away, he said to Lingzhao: 'Observe the time of day, and when it is noon, report it.' Lingzhao hastily reported: 'The sun is already at the midpoint, but there is an eclipse.' The Layman went out the door to look; Lingzhao immediately ascended her father's seat, joined her palms, and passed away seated. The Layman laughed and said: 'My daughter is swift-witted indeed!' Thereupon he postponed his departure for seven days. Prefect Lord Yu Di heard of it and came to inquire. The Layman said to him: 'Only desire to empty all that is; take care not to treat as real all that is not. Take care while residing in the world; all things are like shadows and echoes.' Having spoken, he rested his head on the Lord's knee and transformed. His last instructions ordered that his body be cremated and cast into the rivers and lakes. Mrs. Pang ran to the fields and said to her son Pang Da: 'Your father has died.' Pang Da laughed and said, 'Ha!' Leaning on his hoe, he too departed. The mother said: 'You are all the more foolish!' After they had been cremated, Mrs. Pang bade farewell everywhere to the neighbors and villagers, and retired into seclusion; after that, no one knew where she went. More than three hundred poems and verses by him are circulated in the world. Monks and laity mourned in grief, saying that Layman Pang of the Chan school was none other than Vimalakīrti of Vaiśālī (Records of the Transmission of the Lamp, Biography of Pang).