Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings (96 page)

Upon his death, Changqing received the posthumous title “Great Teacher Beyond Realization.”

LUOSHAN DAOXIAN

LUOSHAN DAOXIAN (n.d.) was a student and Dharma heir of Yantou Quanhuo. He came from ancient Changxi (now the modern city of Xiapu in Fujian Province). Upon leaving home to join the Buddhist orders, he is said to have first lived at Gui Shan (“Tortoise Mountain”).
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After receiving ordination, Luoshan traveled widely and met various teachers.

Once, when Luoshan studied under Shishuang, he asked, “When one is unable to find a place where one can go or remain, then what?”

Shishuang said, “Give it up completely.”

Luoshan didn’t penetrate this answer and later he continued his travels. Then he met Yantou and asked him the same question.

Yantou said, “Going or abiding in some other place, of what use is it?”

Upon hearing these words Luoshan woke up.

The governor of Fuzhou tasted the flavor of Luoshan’s Dharma. He invited him to become the abbot of Mt. Luoshan, naming him Zen Master Fabao [“Precious Dharma”].

On the day when he opened the hall Luoshan entered and took his seat on the lecture platform. He arranged his robes carefully, and then he said to the assembled monks, “Take care!”

For some time, the monks remained, not leaving.

After a long while Luoshan said, “Those who don’t know come forward.”

A monk came forward and bowed.

Luoshan said reprovingly, “It’s terrible.”

When the monk began to ask his question, Luoshan shouted and left the hall.

A monk asked, “When someone gets the point, how does he know it?”

Luoshan said, “Luoshan lifted his scepter.”

The monk said, “Please, Master, show your compassion.”

Luoshan said, “Wide of the mark.”

A monk asked, “With complete submission, I ask the master to accept me as a student.”

Luoshan said, “Do you understand?”

The monk said, “I don’t understand.”

Luoshan said, “The arrow has passed.”

A monk came to study with Luoshan.

Luoshan asked him, “What’s your name?”

The monk said, “Mingjiao [‘Bright Teaching’].”

Luoshan said, “So can you teach or not?”

The monk said, “A little.”

Luoshan raised up a fist and said, “If you can climb spirit mountain, what do you call this?”

The monk said, “Fist teaching.”

Luoshan laughed and said, “So if I do this you call it the fist teaching.”

He then extended his feet and said, “What teaching is this?”

The monk was silent.

Luoshan said, “Don’t you call it the ‘foot teaching’?”

A monk asked, “What is the meaning of ‘On a hundred blades of grass is the complete meaning of the ancestors’?”

Luoshan said, “A thorn pierces your eye.”

A monk asked, “Just when in front of you is a ten-thousand-foot cliff and behind you are tigers, wolves, and lions, then what?”

Luoshan said, “Be there.”

A monk asked, “Who is the boss of the three realms?”

Luoshan said, “Have you eaten?”

When Luoshan was near death, he entered the hall and sat before the assembled monks. After some time he held out his left hand. The head monk misunderstood Luoshan’s meaning, and had the monks on the east side of the hall move back. Luoshan then held out his right hand. The head monk had the monks on the west side move back.

Luoshan then said, “If one want’s to repay Buddha’s compassion, the best way is to propagate the great teaching. Go back! Go back! Take care.”

Luoshan then smiled and passed away.

RUIYAN SHIYAN

RUIYAN SHIYAN (n.d.) came from what is now Fujian Province. During his early years Ruiyan studied under Jiashan Shanhui. Later, Ruiyan studied under one of the most colorful and dynamic teachers of the era, Yantou Quanhuo. The initial meeting between Ruiyan and Yantou is recorded in case seventy-five of the
Book of Serenity
and other classical references.