景德傳燈錄 7.6

7.6

Chan Master Xitang Zhizang of Qianzhou was a native of Qianhua. His family name was Liao. At age eight he followed a master, and at twenty-five he took full ordination. A physiognomist, seeing his extraordinary appearance, said to him: “Your skeletal structure and spirit are uncommon; you shall serve as an assistant to the Dharma King.” The master thereupon went to Mount Foji to visit and pay homage to Daji (Mazu). Together with Chan Master Baizhang Hai, he became an indoor disciple, and both received the seal of transmission. One day Daji sent the master to Chang'an to deliver a letter to National Teacher Zhong. The National Teacher asked, “What Dharma does your teacher expound?” The master walked from the east to the west and stood there. The National Teacher asked, “Is it only this, or is there anything else?” The master then went back over to the east side and stood there. The National Teacher said, “This is Master Ma’s. What about you, worthy one?” The master said, “I already presented it to you, Upādhyāya, long ago.” Soon afterward, he also delivered a letter to Mount Jingshan to Chan Master Guoyi (the conversation is in the chapter on Guoyi). It happened that the regional commander Lu Sigong invited Daji to reside in the prefecture to respond to the times with a grand teaching. When the master returned to the commandery, he received the transmission of the patched robe from Daji, who ordered students to draw near to him. A monk asked Mazu, “I ask the Upādhyāya to leave behind the four propositions and extinguish the hundred negations, and directly point out to me the meaning of coming from the west.” The Patriarch said, “I have no mood for it today. Go ask Zhizang.” The monk then came and asked the master. The master said, “Why did you not ask the Upādhyāya?” The monk said, “The Upādhyāya told me to come and ask you, Sthavira.” The master rubbed his head with his hand and said, “I have a headache today. Go ask senior brother Hai.” The monk then went to ask Hai (Upādhyāya Baizhang). Hai said, “Having come to this point, I don't understand either.” The monk then related this to Mazu. The Patriarch said, “Zang’s head is white; Hai’s head is black.” One day Mazu asked the master, “Why do you not read the scriptures?” The master said, “Are scriptures anything different?” The Patriarch said, “Although that may be so, later on you will still need it to teach people.” The master said, “Zhizang is ill and thinks only of nurturing himself; how would I dare speak of teaching people?” The Patriarch said, “In your later years, you will certainly flourish in the world.” After Mazu passed away, in the seventh year of the Zhenyuan era of the Tang, the assembly invited the master to open the hall. Minister Li Ao once asked a monk, “What teachings does Great Master Ma have?” The monk said, “The Great Master either says, ‘This mind itself is Buddha,’ or he says, ‘Neither mind nor Buddha.’” Li said, “They all cross beyond this side.” Li then asked the master, “What teachings does Great Master Ma have?” The master called out, “Li Ao!” Ao answered, “Yes?” The master said, “The drums and horns have stirred.” Chan Master Zhikong said to the master, “The sun has risen too early.” The master said, “It is just the right time.” When the master resided at Xitang, later a layman asked, “Are there a heaven and a hell?” The master said, “There are.” The layman asked, “Are there the treasures of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha?” The master said, “There are.” To many further questions, he answered in every case, “There are.” The layman asked, “When the Upādhyāya speaks like this, could it be mistaken?” The master said, “Have you ever visited a venerable elder?” The layman said, “I once visited the Upādhyāya of Jingshan.” The master said, “What did Jingshan say to you?” The layman said, “He said that completely everything is non-existent.” The master said, “Do you have a wife?” The layman said, “I do.” The master said, “Does the Upādhyāya of Jingshan have a wife?” The layman said, “He does not.” The master said, “For the Upādhyāya of Jingshan to say 'non-existent' is acceptable.” The layman bowed in gratitude and departed. The master passed into extinction on the eighth day of the fourth month of the ninth year of the Yuanhe era, at the age of eighty, with fifty-five monastic years. Emperor Xianzong bestowed the posthumous title Chan Master Daxuanjiao, and his stūpa was named Yuanhe Zhengzhen. In the reign of Emperor Muzong, he was additionally posthumously titled Chan Master Dajue.