Buddha crossing a predestined person: Dharma and wisdom in life

Chapter 11: A Clash at the Head——If you don’t write about it, you will pass it on outside the classroom (5)
The younger brother couldn't answer again, so he went back to ask the master.The master said: "Next time you can continue to ask him, where are you going when your feet are tired." The younger brother wrote it down again.

■Sentiment——

There is a Dajue Temple in Xishan, Beijing. There is a plaque on the gate of its main hall, engraved with four big characters written by Emperor Qianlong in his own handwriting, "No place to go, no place to come", which means that there is no place to go and no place to come from. The world is empty. , to no avail.All the brothers asked where they were going, and the brothers understood it from the perspective of Buddhism, so naturally there was nowhere to go, so they just said "wind" and "feet" casually.His junior brother didn't have enough comprehension, so naturally he couldn't figure it out.As for the master, he wanted to see how powerful the two senior brothers were, so he had to ask the younger junior brother to ask again and again.

Those who have the upper hand may not necessarily have the upper hand

When Chan Master Linji wandered to Chan Master Jinniu’s residence, as soon as Chan Master Jinniu saw Linji, he crossed the Zen staff to block the door. Chan Master Linji tapped the staff three times with his hand, then turned around and sat down on the head seat in the meditation hall.

Seeing this situation, Zen Master Jinniu said unhappily: "When all the wandering monks meet with the Zen master of the monastery, they all follow certain rules of study and perform the ceremony of the guest and host. Where did you come from? Why do you even have this point?" Do you not understand basic etiquette?"

Zen Master Linji replied sincerely: "I don't know what you are talking about, old Zen master? I tapped the Zen staff three times, didn't I salute you a long time ago?"

After Zen Master Jinniu heard this, he was even more dissatisfied with this answer. As soon as he was about to speak, Zen Master Linji hit Zen Master Jinniu with a Zen stick.

Zen Master Jinniu seemed to have realized something at this time, but Zen Master Linji suddenly said: "I am inconvenient today!"

Zen Master Jinniu slapped it with his palm, and said, "It's very convenient for me now!"

Zen Master Linji took a slap, but laughed and said, "It's really good! Today we are inconvenient and we are inconvenient!"

Later, Chan Master Wei Shan asked Chan Master Yang Shan, "Which of these two seniors has the upper hand in the dialogue?"

Zen Master Yangshan replied: "He who has the upper hand has the upper hand, and he who has the lower hand has the upper hand!"

As soon as this sentence was uttered, the seat owner next to him said disapprovingly: "Those who have the upper hand may not necessarily have the upper hand, and those who have the lower wind may not necessarily have the upper hand. Where is the upper hand? Where is the lower hand?"

Chan Master Yangshan and Chan Master Weishan said in unison: "As the Master said, there are no waves without wind!"

■Sentiment——

In the dialogue between the two Zen masters, they both met each other with courtesy at first, but they disagreed with each other, and they fought each other with fists and sticks. However, they passed on the news of convenience and inconvenience to each other. What is convenience?What is inconvenient? Only the two Zen masters knew it in their hearts, but Chan Master Yangshan and Weishan discussed who had the upper hand and who was the loser. This made the mistake of making trouble out of nothing. Waves" that's all.

live in the present
One day, Chan Master Wude came to the residence of Chan Master Foguang, and Chan Master Foguang said to him, "You are a very famous Zen practitioner. Unfortunately, why don't you find a place to live in seclusion?"

Zen Master Wude said helplessly, "Where is my seclusion?"

Zen Master Foguang said regretfully: "Although you are a very good elder Zen master, you don't even know where you live in seclusion."

Zen Master Wude said: "I have been riding a horse for 30 years, but today I was thrown off by a donkey."

Chan Master Wude stayed with Chan Master Foguang.One day, a student monk asked him: "I want to leave Buddhism, please ask Zen master to help me make a decision."

Zen Master Wude told him: "It's fine if you are that kind of person."

Just as the student monk was about to worship, Chan Master Wude said, "You asked very well, you asked very well."

The student monk said: "I wanted to ask the Zen master, but..."

Zen Master Wude said, "I won't answer today."

The student monk asked, "What about when it is spotlessly clean?"

Zen Master Wude replied: "I don't keep that kind of guests in this place."

The student monk asked, "What is your Zen master's family style?"

Zen Master Wude said, "I won't tell you."

Dissatisfied, the student monk asked, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Zen Master Wude replied bluntly: "This is my family tradition."

The student monk asked seriously: "Is it just that you don't have a word in your family tradition?"

Zen Master Wude said, "Meditate!"

The student monk asked contradictoryly, "Aren't all the beggars on the street sitting down?"

Zen Master Wude took out a copper coin and gave it to the student monk.

At this time, the student monk finally realized something.

When Zen Master Wude met Foguang Zen Master again, he said: "When traveling, travel, and when living in seclusion, live in seclusion. Now I have found a place to live in seclusion!"

■Sentiment——

Since ancient times, some Zen monks have traveled for a long time, some have lived in seclusion for a long time, and some have gone to deep mountains to avoid the burden of fame.What should be the real standard of living for Zen monks? Just as Chan Master Wude said: "Go out when you go out, and hide when you hide." Do whatever you want, that is, live in the "present continuous tense".

The "eyeball" of the mind

When Zen Master Yunyan was weaving straw sandals, Zen Master Dongshan passed by him and said, "Teacher! May I ask you for something?"

Zen Master Yunyan replied, "Tell me about it!"

Zen Master Dongshan said bluntly, "I want your eyeballs."

Zen Master Yunyan asked calmly, "You want eyeballs? What about your own eyeballs?"

Zen Master Dongshan said, "I have no eyeballs!"

Zen Master Yunyan smiled lightly and said, "If you had eyeballs, how would you place them?"

Zen Master Dongshan was speechless.

At this time, Zen Master Yunyan said very seriously: "I think the eyeballs you want should not be my eyeballs, but your own eyeballs?"

Zen Master Dongshan changed his tone and said, "Actually, what I want is not eyeballs."

Finally, Zen Master Yunyan couldn't bear this inconsistent statement, so he shouted at Dongshan Zen Master: "Get out!"

Zen Master Dongshan was not surprised, but still said very sincerely: "It's okay to go out, but I don't have eyes, so I can't see the road ahead."

Zen Master Yunyan touched his heart with his hand, and said, "Isn't this given to you long ago? Why can't you see it?"

Zen Master Dongshan finally came to enlightenment.

■Sentiment——

Zen Master Dongshan asks for eyeballs from others. This is a very strange thing. Even if Zen Master Yunyan is as wise as Zen Master Yunyan, at first he could only tell him that the eyes grow on his forehead. Zen Master Yunyan suggested the wonderful way of "mind's eye", and it was only then that Dongshan understood it.

The naked eye sees everything in the world in black and white. This kind of viewing is only superficial, birth and death, and phenomena, but the mind can observe the essence of the universe. This kind of observation is universal, and the inside and outside are the same. The naked eye still cannot see the road ahead, and the road mentioned here is the true face of oneself.

flow from the heart
When Zen master Xuefeng and Yantou traveled all the way to Mount Ao in Hunan, they were unable to move forward when it was snowing.

Zen Master Yantou was either idle or sleeping all day long.Zen Master Xuefeng always sits in meditation, and he blames Zen Master Yantou for not just knowing how to fall asleep.However, Zen Master Yantou reprimanded Zen Master Xuefeng for not only knowing how to sit in meditation every day.

Zen Master Xuefeng pointed to his chest and said, "I am not stable enough here, how dare I deceive myself and others?"

Zen Master Yantou was very surprised, and kept his eyes on Zen Master Xuefeng.

Zen Master Xuefeng said: "To tell you the truth, I have been restless since I started practicing Zen!"

Zen Master Yantou felt that the opportunity was ripe, so he mercifully instructed: "If so, tell me what you have seen and heard. If it is right, I will confirm it for you, and if it is wrong, I will dispel it for you!"

Zen Master Xuefeng talked about his own practice.

After listening to Zen Master Xuefeng, Zen Master Yantou said loudly: "Haven't you heard of it? Those who enter from the door are not Jiazhen."

Zen Master Xuefeng said, "Then what should I do in the future?"

Zen Master Yantou lowered his voice again and said: "All words and deeds must flow from one's chest, and one must be able to do things upright."

When Zen Master Xuefeng heard this, he immediately understood it thoroughly.

■Sentiment——

The knowledge of the world, even science, is understood from external phenomena, while Zen principles are realized from the inner body.Zen Master Xuefeng did not comprehend it for a long time because of the myriad phenomena in the outside world, he was still stubborn in his heart and could not stop his delusions. "Those who enter from the door are not treasures", and those who can "flow from the heart are the original nature".This is not to delve into the branches, but to establish roots from the body.

Three points are masters and apprentices, seven points are friends

When Chan Master Nanquan Puyuan lived in a nunnery in Henan, Chan Master Zhaozhou, a student monk, came to visit from Shandong to seek the Tao. When the time comes, please cook for yourself, and don’t forget to send a copy up the mountain for me to eat.”

After Nanquan said that, he went up the mountain alone to do some work.Chan Master Zhaozhou cooked and ate by himself. After eating, he had a leisurely moment and fell asleep while lying on the bed.Zen Master Nanquan didn't see Zhaozhou bringing the food, so he went down the mountain and went back to the nunnery, and saw Zhaozhou sleeping soundly.Zen master Nanquan also went to bed and lay beside him to sleep.When Zhaozhou woke up, Zen Master Nanquan said to him, "I have seen a bright and lively Taoist before, but I haven't seen him again until now." Then he took up the Zen stick and shook it, pointing to the Zen stick and asked Zhaozhou: "That spirited Taoist, is it like this?"

Zhaozhou replied, "It's not the same."

Zen Master Nanquan asked again: "Have you seen it? Otherwise, how would you know that it is different?"

Zhao Zhou replied, "If you want to know where I met that Ling Lidao, please put down the Zen staff first, Master."

Zen Master Nanquan said happily: "I have confirmed your pair of intelligent eyes!"

After a pause, Zhaozhou asked Zen Master Nanquan: "Teacher! Dao is not outside things, and things outside are not Tao. What is the way outside things?"

Chan Master Nanquan didn't answer a word, he picked up his stick and beat Zhaozhou. Zhaozhou unceremoniously stretched out his hand to grab Nanquan's stick and said, "Don't hit the wrong person in the future."

Zen Master Nanquan said very happily: "Dragon and snake are easy to distinguish, but true monks should not be deceived!"

■Sentiment——

Zen Master Zhaozhou also respected Nanquan Puyuan as his master when he was a child. He came back and asked again, but the master worked and the disciple rested; the disciple ate and the master starved; Three points are masters and apprentices, seven points are fellow Taoists." Ah.

When the teacher called with a Zen stick, the disciple not only refused to recognize the blow, but also asked the teacher not to mistake the person. The teacher was very happy until then and said, "It's not easy to meet a real Zen practitioner like you!"
One gain, one loss

Chan Master Nanquan Puyuan asked a student monk, "Is there a good wind at night?"

Student monk: "There is a good wind at night."

Nanquan: "Blow a pine tree in front of the folded door."

Student monk: "Blow a pine tree in front of the folded door."

Zen Master Nanquan turned around and asked the waiter standing next to him, "It's a nice wind at night."

Waiter: "What wind is it?"

Nanquan: "Blow a pine tree in front of the folded door."

Waiter: "What is pine?"

After hearing this, Chan Master Nanquan Puyuan was deeply touched and couldn't help sighing: "One gain and one loss!"

After Nanquan said that, he asked the student again, "What will you do in the future?"

Student monk: "Don't do anything!"

Nanquan: "You should be a horse and an ox for all living beings!"

Student monk: "You should be a horse and an ox for your life!"

Zen Master Nanquan turned around and asked the waiter beside him, "What are you going to do in the future?
Waiter: "Be a character like you, teacher!"

Nanquan: "You should be a horse and an ox for all living beings!"

Waiter: "Why do you want to be a horse and an ox for all living beings?"

Zen Master Nanquan looked at the two of them, amplified his voice and still sighed, "One gain, one loss!"

■Sentiment——

Since the Sixth Patriarch, Zen Buddhism has emphasized "not thinking", why should "not think"?Because practicing Zen emphasizes sudden enlightenment at the moment. As soon as people think about it, reason will intervene, and reason has a mind of discrimination. When the mind of discrimination is together, the world will be divided into good and evil, right and wrong, true and false, so people will develop attachments, attachments, etc. The good, right, true, etc. that the intellect considers, the result is farther and farther away from the Tao.Therefore, in Nanquan's view, those who don't think about it are "gained", while those who keep asking "why" are "lost".

The teacher is not a megaphone

A student monk went to visit Zen Master Tiezhou and asked Zen Master Tiezhou to explain "Linjilu" to him.

Zen Master Tie Zhou said: "You have mistaken the person. If you want to listen to "Linji Lu", you'd better go to Zen Master Hong Chuan of Yuanjue Temple."

The student monk said: "No! I have already heard Zen Master Hongchuan's narration. I heard that you are a true disciple of Zen Master Dishui of Tianlong Temple. I must listen to your explanation."

Zen Master Tiezhou couldn't refuse again and again, so he had to take the student monk to a martial arts training venue to practice martial arts together.It wasn't until the two of them were sweating profusely that they stopped practicing martial arts.After practicing martial arts, Zen Master Tiezhou led the monks back to the original Dharma hall. While wiping his sweat, he said to the monks with a smile, "What do you think now? Is my "Linjilu" taught well?"

The student monk was shocked. Zen Master Tie Zhou had only practiced martial arts once. How had he ever talked about "Linji Lu"? The student monk didn't know how to answer the Zen master's question.

Zen Master Tiezhou asked again: "How is my "Linjilu" explained?"

The student monk had no choice but to answer: "Zen Master! Is your "Linjilu" just a set of sword manuals?"

At this time, Zen Master Tiezhou sincerely said: "I am a swordsman, so I only advocate the way of swordsmanship. Although I also learn Zen from Zen masters, I don't want to learn from ordinary Zen practitioners. First of all, I should know that "Linjilu" is absolutely It’s not just talking on paper, and it’s not something that can be understood from the language. As for the explanations of Zen Master Di Shui, I have no way to learn, because I am not a sounding board!”

The student monk said disapprovingly: "According to what Zen Master said, the great virtues of the patriarchs of the past generations have become the mouthpieces for teaching the Dharma and heart?"

Zen Master Tiezhou told the monks: "To pass the Dharma to the mind is to teach the Dharma to the heart, and the speaking tube is naturally the speaking tube."

■Sentiment——

The teacher is not a sounding board, this is the unique style of Zen practitioners, echoing what others say, this is Pengwu Zen, which is different from teaching the law and the heart.Therefore, all academic Zen theories must first be digested by oneself, and after they are fully integrated, what is known is what is known before it can become a theory.

speechless
When Zen Master Qinglin Shiqian first visited Zen Master Dongshan, Zen Master Dongshan asked, "Where did you come from?"

Zen Master Qinglin replied: "Wuling!"

Zen Master Dongshan asked again: "What is the difference between Wuling's Buddhism and mine?"

Zen Master Qinglin said: "It's like brilliant flowers blooming on wild sand and stones."

After hearing this, Zen Master Dongshan turned around and told his disciples, "Specially make some good meals for this man!"

After hearing this, Zen Master Qinglin walked out in a huff.

Zen Master Dongshan said to the public: "This man will surely make all the monks in the world rush to gather under his sect!"

One day, when Chan Master Qinglin bid farewell to Chan Master Dongshan, Zen Master Dongshan asked, "Where are you going?"

(End of this chapter)