景德傳燈錄 5.20

5.20

Chan Master Fada of Hongzhou was a native of Fengcheng in Hongzhou. He left home at the age of seven and recited the Lotus Sūtra. After receiving full ordination, he came to pay homage to the Patriarch, but his head did not touch the ground. The Patriarch rebuked him, saying: "When a bow does not touch the ground, how is it better than not bowing? There must be something harbored in your mind. What is it?" The Master said: "I have recited the Lotus Sūtra up to three thousand times." The Patriarch said: "If you recited it up to ten thousand times and grasped the meaning of the sūtra without taking it as superior, you would walk hand in hand with me. Now, burdened by this undertaking, you do not know your error at all. Listen to my verse:"