Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings (36 page)

“These days Zen students are all in a tizzy, practicing Zen and asking about Tao. I don’t have any Dharma for you to practice here! And there isn’t any doctrine to be confirmed. Just eat and drink. Everyone can do that. Don’t harbor doubt. It’s the same everyplace!

“Just recognize that Shakyamuni was an ordinary old fellow. You must see for yourself. Don’t spend your life trying to win some competitive trophy, blindly misleading other blind people, all of you marching right into hell, floundering in duality! I’ve nothing more to say. Take care!”

During the sixth month of [the year 824], the master said to the monks, “Prepare hot water for a bath. I want to leave.”

Tianran then put on his hat, picked up his walking stick, and put on his shoes. Then just as he put down his foot to take a step, he passed away. His monks built his memorial stupa. He was given the posthumous name “Zen Master Wisdom Penetration.”

TIANHUANG DAOWU

ACCORDING TO TRADITION, Tianhuang Daowu (748–807) was a student of three different Zen masters, and ultimately received Dharma transmission from Shitou Xiqian. Tianhuang, in turn, imparted Dharma transmission to Longtan Chongxin. The lineage then passed to Deshan, Xuefeng, and on to the two great Zen schools of Yunmen and Fayan.

According to the lamp records, Tianhuang possessed an unusually noble appearance. He left home at the age of fourteen after fasting to demonstrate his resolve to his parents. He first studied under a teacher in Mingzhou (the area of modern Ningbo City). Thereafter, he traveled to Hangzhou, where he underwent ordination at Bamboo Forest Temple. Daowu then studied with and received the Dharma of National Teacher Faqin on Mt. Jing. Later, he studied with the great teacher Mazu Daoyi, who confirmed his attainments. After remaining with Mazu for two years, Daowu traveled on to meet Shitou. According to the lamp records, his experience with Shitou caused his remaining doubts to be dispelled.

His fellow monks regarded Daowu as a most diligent Buddhist practitioner. Accounts say that one night during a fierce storm he defied the elements to sit in immobile meditation in a graveyard.

Lamp records indicate that confusion has existed about Tianhuang’s identity because two Zen teachers with similar sounding names lived in the same locale. One monk was named Tianhuang Daowu and the other Tianwang Daowu. Both were students of Mazu Daoyi, and at least one was also a student of Shitou. Mazu and Shitou often sent students back and forth to one another, contributing to the historical uncertainty surrounding Tianhuang’s identity.

The record of Tianhuang Daowu’s awakening and teaching career is provided in the
Wudeng Huiyuan
.

Upon meeting Shitou, Daowu asked, “By what method do you reveal liberating wisdom to people?”

Shitou said, “There are no slaves here. From what do you seek liberation?”

Daowu said, “How can it be understood?”

Shitou said, “So you’re still trying to grasp emptiness?”

Daowu said, “From today I won’t do so again.”

Shitou then said, “I’d like to know when you came forth from ‘that place.’”

Daowu said, “I haven’t come from ‘that place.’”

Shitou said, “I already know where you’ve come from.”

Daowu said, “Master, how can you slander people in this way?”

Shitou said, “Your body is revealed here now.”

Daowu then said, “Although it is thus, how will your teaching be demonstrated to those who come later?”

Shitou said, “Please tell me, who are those who come later?”

Upon hearing these words Daowu instantly experienced great enlightenment, dissolving the mind he had attained from the words of his previous two teachers.

Later, Tianhuang lived on Mt. Ziling at Dangyang City in Xingzhou. The practitioners who came to study under him were pressed shoulder to shoulder, his reputation even reaching to the capital city where he was known among men and women.

At that time, the head of Chongye Temple had told the local garrison commander about Tianhuang. The commander invited Tianhuang into the city for a visit. At the edge of town was Tianhuang Temple. It was quite famous, but because of a bad fire it had been destroyed. The chief monk there, named Lingjian, planned to rebuild it. He said, “If honored master Daowu were to become abbot it would certainly benefit us.”

So late at night, Lingjian went to see Daowu, and beseeching him to take the position of abbot, he brought him to the site of the temple by sedan chair.

During this time a duke of the Jiangling region, Pu Shepei, would sometimes come to inquire about Dharma, kowtowing and paying elaborate respects to Daowu. The master would not go out to receive him or accompany him when he departed. Whether noble or mean, guests would all sit with their hands folded in front of them in respect. Duke Pu Shepei returned often to pay respects to Daowu in this manner. Due to this, Daowu’s reputation spread and the Dharma of Shitou flourished.

Tianhuang Daowu met Longtan. Longtan asked, “What is the affair that has been passed down through generations?”

Daowu said, “None other than knowing from where you come.”

Longtan said, “How many are there who can gain this wisdom eye?”

Daowu said, “Short grasses easily become tall reeds.”

A monk asked, “How does one speak of the great mystery?”

Daowu said, “Don’t say ‘I have realized the Buddhadharma!’”

The monk asked, “How do you deal with students who are stuck?”

Daowu said, “Why don’t you ask me?”

The monk said, “I just asked you.”

Daowu said, “Go! This isn’t the place where you’ll find relief.”

In the fourth month of the [year 807] Tianhuang became ill. He instructed his disciples to announce that he would soon pass away. At the end of summer, the general public was inquiring about his illness.

Suddenly, the master called for the head cook, who came and sat down before him.

Tianhuang said, “Do you understand?”

The cook said, “I don’t understand.”

Tianhuang picked up a cushion and threw it down on the ground. He then passed away.

The master was sixty years of age and had been a priest for thirty-five years. On the fifth day of the eighth month of that year, the master’s stupa was constructed east of the city.

Tenth Generation