景德傳燈錄 3.20

3.20

The Thirtieth Patriarch, the Great Master Sengcan, was of unknown origin. At first, as a layman, he visited the Second Patriarch, and after receiving ordination and the transmission of the Dharma, he went into hiding at Mount Wangong in Shuzhou. When Emperor Wu of the Later Zhou destroyed the Buddhist Dharma, the Master travelled back and forth to Mount Sikong in Taihu county, residing in no fixed place for more than ten years, and none of the people of the time knew him. In the twelfth year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui, a renzi year, there was a novice named Daoxin, only fourteen years of age, who came to pay homage to the Master and said, "I pray that the Upādhyāya in your compassion will bestow upon me the dharma-gate of liberation." The Master said, "Who is binding you?" He said, "No one is binding me." The Master said, "Why then seek liberation further?" Upon these words, Daoxin experienced great awakening, and he served him diligently for nine years. Later, he received the precepts in Jizhou and attended on him with even greater care. The Master repeatedly tested him with profound subtleties; knowing that his conditions were ripe, he then transmitted the robe and Dharma to him. The verse said: