If it was usual, Shenxiu would definitely stand up immediately, and talk eloquently with his eyebrows, but this time, he knew that the stakes were very high, and his feet were still weak, so he was still prostrate on the ground, and the excitement in his heart made his body tremble slightly: "The disciple should kneel on the ground when he listens to the teacher's teachings." ”

The Fifth Ancestor didn't say anything immediately, just looked at the big disciple who was lying on the ground, at this moment, he really couldn't bear it! The fifth ancestor knew that Shenxiu had misunderstood what he meant, and thought that he was invited to come alone tonight to give him the mantle. To tell the truth, the five ancestors are well aware of Shenxiu's incomparable belief and reverence for Zen Buddhism, and devote their whole lives to meditation and practice, study and practice hard, and respect the ancestors on weekdays. From a personal point of view, the Fifth Ancestor was extremely reluctant to expose this mystery, which would hurt his self-esteem. However, the five ancestors understand more that as the leader of today's Zen forest, they must have a unique vision and select talents to continue the Buddha's heart lamp, teach the mantle, and Shaolong's ancestral industry, which is related to the great cause of Zen Buddhism, and cannot be replaced by personal feelings.

The Fifth Ancestor whispered: "You better get up and talk to you slowly for the teacher." ”

Shenxiu supported the ground with her hands, stood up tremblingly, and stood with her hands down.

The Fifth Ancestor motioned for Shenxiu to sit down on his left, and asked slowly, "Shenxiu, did you write that verse on the wall of the south corridor?"

"This ...... This ......" Shenxiu couldn't deny it, and said humbly, "The disciple is dull, please ask the master to add it." ”

The fifth ancestor stroked his white hair: "Your language is flying, and the metaphor is appropriate." If you go to the capital to take the exam, you will definitely be able to press thousands of people, and enter the top three with your head held high, even if you are interviewing in the Jinluan Hall against the saint, it is also flawless. ”

When Shenxiu heard the praise of the five ancestors, the big stone hanging high in his heart suddenly put it down, and replaced it with a burst of surprise: "Thank you for the praise of the ancestors." ”

The Fifth Patriarch continued: "The connotation of this verse is quite profound, and a drop of water can see the sunlight, and this verse reflects that your comprehension of meditation has reached a very high level. ”

Shenxiu is still so modest: "The ancestors of the past generations have taught us to meditate diligently and practice. ”

The Fifth Ancestor threw his white hair over his shoulders and prolonged his voice: "But-"

Shenxiu's heart twitched for a while: "But what?"

In the words of the Five Patriarchs: "But your verses have not yet understood the Zen machine from the nature of the Buddha. Shenxiu's mind roared, his ears whined, and cold sweat suddenly poured out: "The disciple is foolish, I hope the master will teach." ”

Only then did Master Hongren open his eyes, look at Shenxiu, and sighed: "Alas—judging from your four verses, you haven't really realized Buddha nature. Let's put it this way, you have only arrived at the door of Zen, and you have not really entered the door, and you have not glimpsed the mystery of the avenue. Ordinary practitioners, if they follow this poem of yours, they will not fall. However, with such an opinion, it is impossible to attain complete enlightenment. Okay, go make me a cup of tea, and I'll inspire you. ”

Shenxiu washed the cup, made tea, poured water, and presented it to the master.

Master Hongren immediately picked it up, took a sip, and said, "I'm so anxious, the tea hasn't been brewed yet!" ”

Shenxiu knew that Master wasn't just talking about tea.

Master Hongren said slowly, word by word: "The supreme Buddha path must recognize the original mind at the moment and see the self-nature thoroughly. The view of the Dharma must be unpretentious, unthinking, without the slightest impulse, and naturally flowing out of one's own nature. You have to understand that your nature is immortal. At all times, in every thought, maintain this awareness and experience. You must know that the nature of everything in the world is originally interconnected, and there is only one absolute nature, all of which are true. Only by looking at all things with this understanding can we leave its appearance and see its true nature. ”

Master Hongnin picked up the teacup again and drank the tea in the cup in one gulp. As soon as Shenxiu wanted to add water, he waved his hand, played with the empty teacup and said, "The so-called Buddha nature, the so-called enlightenment, is nothing more than the original mind of a person who has no troubles and no delusions. This heart, like this teacup, the Buddha and the emperor used it to eat tea, and it will never give rise to a single thought of joy because of this; Insects, birds, cats and dogs use it to drink, and it will not be angry and dissatisfied because of this. When it is full of gold, silver, and precious stones, it will not covet; Use it to hold urine, and it won't be disgusted. In this way, the mind is not moved by all things, and it is not enslaved by all things, but it is servitude to all things, and all things are as if they were in my heart. This is great freedom, true liberation. ”

Master Hongnin gently put down the teacup and closed his eyes silently.

Shenxiu gently picked up the cup and looked at it carefully.

Master Hongren didn't open his eyes, and said softly: "My own heart is invisible, I want to experience it." By experiencing this mind, you can open the door to your original Buddha-nature and slowly wipe away your confusion in order to attain the desired realization. Your method of meditation cultivation is nothing more than the 'gradual realization' of your predecessors, and you have no intention of innovation, and you have only reached a small mountain, but you have not yet reached the highest peak of Zen theory. Besides, you've been to my abbot's room more than a dozen times since you wrote the verses, haven't you?"

Shenxiu's cheeks flushed: "Yes." ”

The Fifth Ancestor asked with a slight reproach: "Since you have already written a verse and expressed your heart, why don't you dare to present it to the old man immediately?"

Shenxiu was terrified: "I'm afraid that this verse will be written in a bad way." Just—"

"There's just a retreat to keep going right and maneuvering, isn't it?" The old eyes of the Fifth Ancestor pointed at him like arrows.

Shenxiu's gaze met with the five ancestors, and then he flashed away in a panic, and muttered: "Yes...... It's ......"

The Fifth Ancestor bluntly said: "This shows that your heart is not clear, you have no self-confidence, and you dare not speak out about your feelings, and you are straight to your heart." This kind of tricky and tentative practice is actually suffering from gains and losses, indecision, and unclear mindfulness, and there is still a long way to go to attain the realm of selflessness in the four emptiness of Zen Buddhism. ”

"I ......" Shenxiu's cheeks turned red and blue, and his ears buzzed.

The Fifth Patriarch solemnly said, "Let me ask you, what do you think about the 'precepts', 'wisdom', and 'concentration' among the six paramitas?"

Shenxiu solemnly replied: "All evils are not regarded as 'precepts', all good practices are called 'wisdom', and self-purification is called 'determination'. ”

The Fifth Patriarch inquired inquiringly, "What would you do if you were to take charge of the Dongchan Temple in the future?"

Shenxiu solemnly: "If I am in charge of the Dongchan Temple, I will definitely clean up the mountain gate, strictly abide by the temple rules, and ask the monks to recite the Buddha in the morning, practice Zen at night, discuss the scriptures and teachings, and practice diligently." Looking for the opportunity to become enlightened in meditation, from the outside to the inside, from the shallow to the deep, so that Dongchan Temple has become the first temple in the world. ”

The Fifth Patriarch asked, "How do you say we should practice meditation?"

Shenxiu replied according to the traditional Zen study of Master Shujia: "It is to understand the convenience of the Zen realm of interesting people." Stay away from the hustle and bustle and live in a quiet place; Regulate your body and pranayama. Meditation is the only way to enlighten wisdom. ”

The Fifth Patriarch shook his head and said frankly: "You have not yet understood the nature of the Buddha at the point where you have practiced meditation now, and you are still watching the fire from the other side, and you have not achieved transcendence. Or to use plain language as an analogy, but only outside the door, not inside the door. To be the supreme Buddha, you must know your own mind and see your true nature in the present moment. There is no life, no death, and this can be recognized at all times and in every thought. All kinds of laws are interconnected, unhindered, and if they are true, everything is true. All the realms are the same. The essence of being the same is true. If there is such an understanding, then that is the nature of the supreme Buddha's path. ”

Shenxiu asked in a trembling voice, "How can I get through the door when I pray for Master to enlighten?"

The Fifth Patriarch sighed and said, "In the world, it is easy to learn Buddhism, but it is difficult to participate in Zen; It's easy to participate in Zen, but it's hard to see sex! It is important to know that the highest state of meditation depends on one's own understanding, not on human beings. Okay, you do as I say, put in some more work, have a good experience, and rewrite a verse in a day or two and then present it to me. If you can truly understand the nature of the Buddha and the nature of your own nature, I will pass on the mantle to you. ”

"Hmm." When Shenxiu nodded in agreement, he was already injured, his skeleton was about to disperse, and his eyes were full of tears.

Shenxiu gritted his teeth, and finally supported his feet, when he walked out of the abbot's room of the five ancestors, his feet could no longer support, so he had to touch the wall of the south corridor with his hands, and walked back towards his monk's room step by step.

The fifth ancestor stood on the threshold of the abbot's room and looked at it, his heart was like a knife, and he could only sigh and shake his head helplessly.

I don't know how long I walked, and I don't know how Shenxiu got back to his monk's room.

This night, Shenxiu's heart was dripping with blood, thoughts were surging, and the bamboo mat lying on the bed was like lying on a red-hot iron plate.

"That verse doesn't work, so let's make another one. There are still two or three days to go horizontally and vertically. For two days in a row, Shenxiu racked his brains, and he lost a lot of weight, but he couldn't come up with new verses.

This is not surprising, because the verses made on the south corridor are already the sublimation of his heart and the supreme expression of understanding.