大明高僧傳 8.8

8.8

Śramaṇa Shi Yanchong, styled Kengtang, was a son of the Sheng family of Yuqian in Hangzhou. From childhood his wisdom-nature was bright and clear, and good roots were rooted within him. Born knowing of [the Dharma], he vowed to cast off worldly entanglements. Thereupon he shaved his head under Shi Yikan of the Mingkong Cloister. For five summers he studied the Vinaya, then traveled alone with a single bowl. He went directly to Dayu, Hongzhi, Zhengtang, and Dayuan. Later he heard a monk cite Donglin Yan instructing the assembly, saying: 'Here I have no other profound marvels; there are only wood-shavings soup and iron-nail rice—you are completely left to chew on them.' Chong secretly rejoiced and went straight to call on him and state his understanding. Donglin said to him: 'According to where your view is, you are sitting squarely within reflective awareness.' Chong discarded all that he had attained before all at once, single-mindedly and diligently inquiring and investigating. One day he heard a nearby monk cite Nanquan saying: 'People of today see this single flower like a dream.' He silently realized to himself: 'Beating the grass is only to startle the snake.' The next day he entered the room, and Donglin asked: 'Where was it that Yantou secretly opened his intention?' Chong said: 'Today I have captured this old thief.' Lin said: 'Great Master Bodhidharma's life is in your hands.' As Chong was about to open his mouth, Lin suddenly struck him in the chest with a fist. Immediately he had a great awakening; sweat streamed down his back, and nodding his head, he said: 'Linji said that the Buddhadharma of Huangbo does not have much to it—how could that be empty words!' He presented a verse: 'To help a person, one must help thoroughly; / To kill a person, one must see blood. / Deshan and Yantou— / For ten thousand miles, a single strip of iron.' Lin deeply affirmed it.