宋高僧傳 8.7

8.7

The appraisal states: "How did the Fifth Patriarch recognize a mere layman and immediately transmit the robe to him?" The appraisal explains: "With a single word he understood his mind, without any further doubt or hesitation. Moreover, he knew the wheel of his mind as clearly as the palm of his hand." Since Master Ren expounded the single-flavor Dharma, why was the robe and bowl given to a layman? For Master Shenxiu, this was not the case. The appraisal explains: "How could this Dharma discriminate between monastic and lay? It is transmitted to whoever attains it. When King Wu of Zhou enfeoffed the feudal lords, he distributed ritual vessels, distinguishing those of the same surname from those of different surnames. The ancestral master discerned the refined from the crude, using the robe as a pledge of trust. It is like three warriors shooting at an adamantine target: the shot of the first, a Magana, hits it but does not pierce it; that of the second, a Praskandhi, pierces it but does not pass through; that of the third, a Nārāyaṇa, pierces it and further penetrates other objects. It is not that the adamantine target has strength or weakness; it is solely due to the differing force of the shots. Huineng of the South can be called one whose shot was like Nārāyaṇa's, and thus he obtained the reward." Since the robe of trust was not transmitted after Huineng, does this not resemble Yu of Xia turning the world into a family estate? The appraisal explains: "Master Ren said that the life of whoever received the transmission of the robe would hang by a thread; such was Ren's intention. Furthermore, while Shenhui was more than adequate in receiving the ancestral teachings, he was deficient in conducting pastoral transformation. Therefore, the subsequent arrival of the equal-ranks controversy subsequently verified Master Huineng's prescience; not transmitting the robe incurred no blame of selfish withholding. Thus it is said: 'Knowing others is wisdom.' Ah!"