Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings (131 page)

When Shishuang Chuyuan moved from Nanyuan to Mt. Dao Wu, and then to Shishuang, Yangqi followed him, performing administrative affairs in each place. Although Yangqi remained with Shishuang for a long time, he never attained enlightenment. Each time he would have an interview, Shishuang would say, “There are a lot of administrative affairs requiring attention. Go do them.”

On one occasion when Yangqi went to see Shishuang [for instruction on practice], Shishuang said, “Director! Someday your descendants will cover the earth. Why are you in a hurry?”

One day, Shishuang had just gone out when it suddenly began to rain. Yangqi spied his teacher walking on a small path, chased him down, and grabbed him, saying, “You’ve got to talk to me now, or else I’m going to hit you!”

Shishuang said, “Director! You already completely know how to take care of things, so that’s enough!”

Before Shishuang had finished speaking, Yangqi experienced great enlightenment. He then kneeled and bowed to Shishuang on the muddy path.

The
Zeng Ding Fozu Dao Ying
offers a different passage related to Yangqi’s spiritual maturity.
¹⁹⁰

Yangqi asked Shishuang, “How is it when the great dark bird cries ‘na! na!’ and flies down from the clouds into the chaotic mountain peaks?”

Shishuang said, “I walk in wild grasses. You rush into the village.”

Yangqi said, “When the senses have no room for even a needle, still there is another question.”

Shishuang then shouted.

Yangqi said, “Good shout.”

Shishuang shouted again.

Yangqi also shouted.

Shishuang then shouted twice.

Yangqi bowed.

Shishuang said, “This affair concerns one person taking up and carrying a lotus.”

Yangqi shook his sleeves and went out.

When Shishuang passed away, Yangqi left and went to live at Pingmai on Jiu Peak. Many monks and laypersons came to Jiu Peak to request that he assume the abbacy at Mt. Yangqi.

At that time, Marquis Qin didn’t know Yangqi.

He exclaimed in surprise, “Does Monastery Director Hui understand Zen?”

Upon accepting the invitation to teach, Yangqi met with the congregation to answer questions. At the end of the meeting he said, “Are there any more questions? If so, come forth with them. Today my life is in the hands of each and every one of you, and is dependent on your support. Why is this? An abbot’s authenticity is clearly judged by the congregation. It can’t be hidden away and obscured like a submerged water plant. It must be tested now before the congregation. Can anyone else come forward to test it? If not, then it is my own loss.”

When he finished speaking, Yangqi got down from the seat.

Just then Marquis Qin grabbed him and said, “I’m happy that today I’ve finally gotten a fellow practitioner.”

Yangqi said, “What do you mean by ‘fellow practitioner’?”

Marquis Qin said, “Yangqi guides the ox. Marquis Qin pushes it.”

Yangqi said, “At this moment, is Yangqi in the front, or is Jiufeng in the front?”

Marquis Qin was unable to answer.

Yangqi then pushed him away and said, “Before I thought we were fellow practitioners, but actually we’re not!”

Because of this incident, Yangqi’s reputation spread widely through the land.

Yangqi said, “Fog fills the sky and the wind blows wildly. The foliage and the trees, like a great lion’s roar, expound the
Mahaprajnaparamita
scripture. All of the buddhas of the three worlds turn the great wheel of Dharma under the heels of each of you! If you understand this, then your wisdom is not wasted. If you don’t understand, then don’t say that the terrain of Mt. Yangqi is dangerous, because in front of you there is still the highest mountain to climb!”

One day, three monks arrived at the monastery.

Yangqi said to them, “Three people traveling together must have one wisdom.”

Yangqi then picked up a cushion and said, “Practitioner, what do you call this?”

The monk said, “A cushion.”

Yangqi said, “Really?”

The monk said, “Yes.”

Yangqi then again asked, “What do you call it?”

The monk again said, “A cushion.”

Yangqi then looked to the left and right and said, “This practitioner possesses the eye.”

Yangqi then said to the second monk, “If you want to travel a thousand miles, you must start with the first step. What is the first phrase?”

The monk said, “Arriving here at the master’s place, how dare I extend my hand?”

Yangqi then used his hand to draw a circle in the air.

The monk said, “Complete.”

Yangqi then extended both of his hands.

When the monk started to speak, Yangqi said, “Complete.”

Yangqi then asked the third monk, “From where have you recently departed?”

The monk said, “From Nanyuan.”

Yangqi said, “Today, you monks have discovered Yangqi. Please sit and have some tea.”

Yangqi entered the hall and said, “The single word of Yangqi is complete and perfect everywhere. If you try to grasp it, it’s inconceivable.”

A monk asked, “In order to escape the vexations of the mind, one must see the ancient teaching. What is the ancient teaching?”

Yangqi said, “The clear moon of the universe. The clear wave of the blue ocean.”

The monk then asked, “If someone doesn’t yet understand this, how can he do so?”

Yangqi said, “Beneath the heels.”

Yangqi addressed the monks, saying, “There is no great meaning on Yangqi. What you sow you’ll reap! Old Shakyamuni was talking in a dream. Where will you find any trace of it now?”

Yangqi then struck the meditation platform and shouted, “Practice!”