景德傳燈錄 18.8

18.8

Chan Master Huileng of Changqing in Fuzhou was a native of Yanguan in Hangzhou, surnamed Sun. From his youth, his nature was pure and tranquil. At the age of thirteen, he left household life and took the precepts at Tongxuan Monastery in Suzhou. He traveled to practice at Chan quarters. In the fifth year of Qianfu of the Tang dynasty, he entered Min, paid respect at Xiyuan, and visited Lingyun, but still had stubborn obstacles. Later he went to Xuefeng, where the ice of his doubts melted away. He then asked, 'Please give instruction on the single road transmitted and received by the sages from antiquity.' Xuefeng remained silent. The Master bowed and retreated, and Xuefeng smiled faintly. On another day, Xuefeng said to the Master, 'I usually say to the monks: There is a poisonous snake on South Mountain; all of you should look closely!' The Master replied, 'In the hall today, many people have lost their lives.' Xuefeng approved of this. The Master entered the abbot's quarters to consult him. Xuefeng said, 'What is it?' The Master said, 'Today the weather is clear, good for general labor.' From this point on, his replies and questions were never at odds with the profound purport. He then expressed his awakening and understanding in a verse: