大明高僧傳 7.27

7.27

Shi Zongxian was styled Zhengjue. He was a son of the Wang family of Tongchuan. In his youth, he passed the examination as a jinshi and had a great reputation. Once, during the day, he scooped stream water in play; at night, thinking of it, he saw water limpidly filling the room. He wished to draw it, but could not. Suddenly, the objective realm became naturally empty, and he sighed, 'My worldly net is torn!' He went to rely upon Venerable Bai of Zhaojue and was ordained. Dressed simply in a single patch-robe, he followed the assembly in asking for instruction. One day, Venerable Bai asked, '"Standing on the highest peak, walking on the deepest ocean floor"—how do you understand this?' Under these words, he suddenly attained awakening and said, 'Nailing down the heels!' Bai held up his fly-whisk and said, 'What about this one?' Xian smiled and walked out. He served diligently for seven years. He then went wandering to the capital and the Huai and Zhe regions, visiting monasteries everywhere. In his later years, he ascended Wuzu and saw Venerable Yan, asking, 'Not yet knowing the mechanism, it is difficult to cross the Zhaozhou bridge. What is the mechanism?' Wuzu said, 'Just stand outside the door.' Xian took a step forward, stamped his foot, and retreated. Wuzu said, 'All this time with meals and tea, it turns out there really is someone who knows the flavor!' The next day he entered the room. Wuzu saw Xian and asked, 'Are you the monk who asked questions yesterday? I certainly know your insight, but you have not yet passed the Baiyun barrier.' Xian said, 'Take care,' and walked out. At that time, Yuanwu was the attendant, so Xian asked Wu about the meaning of the Baiyun barrier. Wu said, 'Understand it directly here and now!' Xian laughed and said, 'It is not that I do not understand; I just am not yet familiar with it. I will wait until I see this old fellow and have an understanding with him.' The next day, Wuzu went to Shucheng; Xian and Wu followed. They happened to meet at Xinghua. Wuzu asked, 'Do you remember where we met before?' Xian said, 'The imperial bodyguard in full fire armor.' Wuzu looked at Wu and said, 'This fellow is quite loquacious.' Later, returning from traveling to Mount Lu, he related the understanding he had gained regarding the words 'standing on the highest peak' to Wuzu. Wuzu said, 'I once questioned my late master about this matter. The late master said, "I once asked Venerable Yuan. Yuan said: A cat has the power to drink blood; a tiger has the virtue of raising corpses. Unless one searches out the fundamental source, one cannot attain it."' Xian attended him for a long time, and Wuzu loved him dearly. When taking leave to return to Shu, Wuzu held an informal gathering for him, and sent him off with a verse, saying: 'Away from home for over forty years, / For a moment I forgot the speech of Shu. / Chan practitioner, returning to Chengdu, / You must carefully remember the speech of Lu.' Xian returned to Zhaojue; Venerable Bai was still in good health, and Xian attended him again, his reputation flourishing. First he came forth to reside at Changsong, and next presided over Baofu. He opened the furnace and bellows wide, forging students from all four quarters; thus many dragons and elephants emerged from his forge.