續傳燈錄 13.7

13.7

Chan Master Baoning Renyong of Jinling was a son of the Zhu family of Siming. His deportment was profound and graceful. When still young, he became a fully ordained monk and thoroughly understood the Tiantai teachings. Changing his attire, he visited Chan Master Xuedou Mingjue. Xuedou deemed him capable of shouldering the Great Dharma, and teasingly chided him, saying, "A rustic seat-master!" In frustration and indignation, the Master went down the mountain, bowed toward Xuedou, and vowed: "In this life, if my itinerant pilgrimage in investigating Chan does not surpass Xuedou, I swear I will not return to my native place!" He immediately went to Letan, where more than a decade passed without the knot of doubt dissolving. Hearing that Yangqi had moved to Yugai and was able to discipline and forge students, he went straight to his room. Before a single word was finished, he abruptly clarified the mind-seal. After Yangqi passed away, he traveled with his fellow student Chan Master Baiyun [Shou]duan, investigating the profound mysteries to the utmost. Later he came into the world to be abbot twice at Baoning and ended his days there. A monk asked, "What is the Buddha?" The Master said, "What is close to the fire scorches first." [The monk] asked, "What is the Way?" The Master said, "There are thorns in the mud." [The monk] asked, "What is the person in the Way?" The Master said, "Be sure not to step on them." [A monk] asked, "An ancient worthy said: 'The cold wind withers the decaying leaves; one is still glad when an old friend returns.' I wonder, who is the old friend?" The Master said, "Upādhyāya Yangqi passed away long ago." [The monk] said, "Right at such a time, who else acts as an intimate friend?" The Master said, "A blind village elder nodding in secret." [A monk] asked, "What is the Buddha?" The Master said, "One does not perceive the stench of one's own feces." [A monk] asked, "What is the environment of Baoning?" The Master said, "The main peak stands upside down." [The monk] asked, "What is the person in the environment?" The Master said, "He has not even half a nostril." [A monk] asked, "What is a person at ease amid the dust?" The Master said, "Following along does not hinder swinging one's arms." [A monk] asked, "What is the Buddha?" The Master said, "An iron hammer without a hole." [The monk] asked, "What is the great meaning of the Buddha-Dharma?" The Master said, "In boiling water there is no cold spot." [A monk] asked, "On Gṛdhrakūṭa the moon was pointed out; at Caoxi the moon was spoken of. I wonder, how is it under the gate of Baoning?" The Master said, "Ah!" [The monk] said, "There are flowers pasted directly on the face." The Master then shouted. [A monk] asked, "Picking leaves and seeking branches I do not ask about; what is cutting straight to the root source?" The Master said, "A mosquito climbing an iron ox." [The monk] said, "The person of the root source already understands; how do you instruct those of medium and low capacity?" The Master said, "The stone man's back is streaming with sweat." He ascended the hall: "For over twenty years this mountain monk carried his pack and bowl, calling upon more than a dozen kalyāṇamitras across the seas. I had no realization of my own at all, resembling a stubborn stone; nor did the venerable elders I visited have any superior points to benefit me with. From that time on, for my whole life I became a person who understands nothing at all—fortunately a pitiful sort. Suddenly I was blown by the wind of karma to Jiangning Prefecture, and for no reason was pushed by people to step forward, residing in a dilapidated monastery at the crossroads, acting as a master of gruel and rice to receive guests from north and south. As matters could not be avoided, according to circumstances there is salt and vinegar, sufficient gruel and sufficient rice. I just pass the time like this; as for the Buddha-Dharma, I have never even dreamt of it." He ascended the hall. When the attendant had finished burning incense, the Master pointed to the attendant and said, "The attendant has already expounded the Dharma for everyone." He ascended the hall: "Look, look! This mountain monk is going into the Tongue-Pulling Hell!" Pulling his tongue with his hand, he said, "Ouch, ouch!" He ascended the hall: / "The autumn wind is cool, the pine's resonance long; / The guest who has not returned longs for his hometown. / Tell me, who is the guest who has not returned? Where is the hometown?" / After a long pause, he said, "On the long communal bench, there is gruel and there is rice." He ascended the hall: / "Phoenix-call branches, rain shatters the clods; / At dawn upon the pillow, the orioles' songs are fragmented. / Toads and earthworms chirp all at once; / Wondrous Virtue and Empty Born do not understand at all. / In groups of three, in gangs of four, / Graceful and slender, floating and fluttering, / Going south, north, east, and west, / Breaking off pear blossoms, / And plum blossoms, one ornament or two."