景德傳燈錄 4.27

4.27

Chan Master Xuansu of Helin in Runzhou was a native of Yanling in Runzhou with the surname Ma. During the Ruoyi era of the Tang, he received his studies at Changshou Monastery in Jiangning. Later in life, he studied under Chan Master Zhiwei and awakened to the true school. Afterward, he resided at Helin Monastery in Jingkou. Once, a butcher came to pay homage and wished to prepare offerings at his own home. The master gladly went, and the assembly was astonished. The master said, “The Buddha-nature is equal; the worthy and the foolish are one. If someone can be saved, I save them; what difference is there?” A monk asked, “What is the meaning of the coming from the West?” The master said, “If you understand, then you do not understand; if you doubt, then you do not doubt.” The master also said, “The one who neither understands nor doubts; the one who neither doubts nor understands.” Another monk knocked at the gate, and the master asked, “Who is it?” The monk said, “A monk.” The master said, “Not only a monk—even if a Buddha comes, I do not admit him.” The monk said, “Why would you not admit a Buddha if he came?” The master said, “There is no place for you to lodge.” On the eleventh day of the eleventh month in the eleventh year of the Tianbao era, he passed away in the middle of the night without illness. He lived eighty-five years. A stupa was built on Mount Huanghe, and he was posthumously granted by imperial order the title of Chan Master Dajin and the stupa of Dahe Baohang.