Master Hongnin's gaze became extremely kind, caressing Hui Neng over and over again like a warm hand, with a happy smile on his face.

A few days ago, when Master Hongren was meditating, in the midst of meditation, he saw a person rushing towards Dongshan Temple. Gradually, the man ascended to the top of the eastern mountain and merged with the rising sun that happened to rise to the top of the mountain. As a result, the morning sun became more and more magnificent, radiating a brilliant light......

Master Hongren didn't know if this Hui Neng who came today was the person, so he first tested his temperament and understanding with contemptuous language. After listening to Huineng's words, every sentence was in line with the Buddha's principles, and Master Hongren immediately felt that this human root instrument was extraordinary, and it was a good monk material that was rare in a lifetime.

The Fifth Ancestor forcibly suppressed the joy in his heart, and just asked with a flat expression: "Have you read too many juvenile books, and you have won Xiucai, or Jinshi?"

Huineng waved his hand and said frankly: "My father died when I was three years old, and I was raised by my mother's hard work. Because of his poor family, he never went to school to study, but only learned from others, and only knew a few simple words. So I haven't been hit by any show talent and jinshi. ”

The Fifth Ancestor was moved: "You are also quite good at talking. ”

Huineng said sincerely: "I haven't seen anything in the world, my experience is shallow, and my knowledge is thin, but what I said just now is all my heartfelt words. ”

The fifth ancestor was puzzled: "You are far away in Lingnan, how do you know that you have come to my Dongchan Temple?"

"It was Master Lonely Sky of Jintai Temple in Xinzhou who asked me to come to you." Hui Neng said, took out a letter from his bosom, and respectfully handed it over, "This is a letter from Master Lonely Sky to you. ”

The Fifth Patriarch took the letter, opened it and read it, and saw that it was a letter of recommendation from his disciple, so he said to Huineng: "The sea of suffering for monks is boundless, and they must go through thousands of hardships to achieve positive results. Since ancient times, it is not uncommon for people who study Buddhism to be models of forgetting their bodies, stabbing blood, and breaking their arms. It is necessary to endure the unspeakable hardships of ordinary people, do the work that is difficult for ordinary people, and be inspirational and clear-minded, so as to make achievements. ”

Huineng's eyes flashed, and the corners of his mouth showed a resolute look: "It's difficult to see your husband's heart, and you don't know the pine and cypress after the snow." Master, that's what I'm here for. ”

Seeing that he was full of determination, the fifth ancestor groaned: "This ......"

Huineng pleaded: "I want to cultivate to become a Buddha, and I hope that my master will accept me as a disciple and shave my hair for me." ”

The Fifth Ancestor wanted to have a further in-depth conversation with Hui Neng, but when he saw Shenxiu and other disciples beside him, he sank his face and waved his hand resolutely: "You have never practiced half a line, nor have you sat in meditation for half a day, how can the old man lose your hair for you so hastily?"

Huineng is as determined as iron: "But my determination to study Buddhism will not change." ”

"Whether your heart is sincere or not is not spoken by your own mouth. It's about your actions. In this case, you go to the miscellaneous room of the North Courtyard first, and start as a handyman. ”

Huineng took a step forward and said, "Master Qiqi, the disciple's heart is pure and unblemished, and there are no distracting thoughts. Now that Master has asked me to do chores, what kind of chores are I doing? ”

When Master Hongren heard this, he couldn't help but be taken aback, and couldn't help but look at Huineng seriously again, and nodded slightly in agreement. But at the same time, he thought that this Hui Neng was too smart, and he had to fold his burrs in order to understand his heart. So, Master Hongren straightened his face and shouted majestically: "You Southern Barbarian, you are unruly, go to work immediately!" ”

The surrounding Zen monks smiled happily, and Zhike Yingyin was even more proud.

Huineng nodded: "Thank you for the cultivation of the ancestors." ”

"You can call me Master when you meet in the future," the Fifth Ancestor tilted his head slightly to the side and said to Shenxiu, who was standing beside him, "You are the head of the Dongchan Temple, settle this new lay disciple." ”

"Good!" Shenxiu bowed humbly to the Fifth Ancestor and nodded, then turned to Huineng, and immediately changed his reprimanding face, "Go, follow me to the North Courtyard Miscellaneous Room." ”

Huineng followed Shenxiu towards the north courtyard, and after walking more than ten steps, he turned his head suddenly, with spring on the corner of his mouth, and smiled slightly at the fifth ancestor.

The five ancestors have a hot heart: this firewood boy from the south has a simple and honest appearance, and is a little straightforward; But it is intelligent in the heart and wise in wisdom. First meeting. Dare to challenge authority, straightforward dissecting nature, how similar its nature is to his own mysteries. It seems that the great cause of Zen Buddhism has another successor.

Shenxiu reprimanded Huineng with a gloomy face as she walked.

This Shenxiu, whose surname is Li, is a native of Kaifeng Wei. He was tall and handsome, fair-skinned, and dignified. On the round face, there is a pair of eyes that hide deep strategy. He was a Buddha since he was a child, and in the eighth year of Tang Wude (625), he received full ordination at the age of 19 in Luoyang Tiangong Temple. On weekdays, he is well-read, studious and knowledgeable, and can recite Confucianism and Buddhism in Laozhuang and Buddhism. In Luoyang, the poor Shenxiu is already a thousand people, and no one can match.

In the Dharma Hall of Tiangong Temple, Shenxiu is explaining the "Yuanjue Sutra" to the monks:

…… With the great Bodhisattva Mahasattva's 100,000 people, his name is Manjushri Bodhisattva, Puxian Bodhisattva, Puyan Bodhisattva, Vajra Tibetan Bodhisattva, Maitreya Bodhisattva, Pure Wisdom Bodhisattva, Virtuous Freedom Bodhisattva, Dialectical Sound Bodhisattva, Pure Karma Bodhisattva, Pujue Bodhisattva, Yuanjue Bodhisattva, Virtuous Head Bodhisattva, etc.

Shenxiu put down the scriptures, looked up to inspect everyone, and said slowly: "Fellow disciples, have you ever thought that at the great Dharma meeting of the Buddha saying the "Yuanjue Sutra", there are a total of 100,000 great bodhisattvas, why only mention the names of the above 12 bodhisattvas? Why are the 12 bodhisattvas arranged in such order? ”

The monks were confused, dazed, and indifferent. Shen Xiu explained with a little disappointment, "These 12 bodhisattvas have different expressions, representing 12 methods. The order in which they are arranged is the order of practice of Mahayana Buddhism...... "The subtle teachings of the Dharma unfold in a stream...... Shenxiu, who entered the Tao as a child, is widely involved and erudite. He is not only proficient in Buddhism, but also very good at Confucianism and Taoism, especially "Lao Tzu" and "I Ching", and has insight into its purpose and is wonderful.

By the age of 46, Shenxiu was already a master of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, and enjoyed a good reputation in the vast Central Plains, and his followers came to study endlessly. But he was still not satisfied, and came to Huangmei Shuangfeng Mountain Temple again to pay homage to the five ancestors of Zen Buddhism, Master Hongren.

At that time, Shenxiu was nearly fifty years old when he defected to Dongchan Temple.

On that day, it was a drizzle, and the Twin Peaks Mountains were shrouded in a vast cloud of smoke and rain. The Fifth Patriarch had just finished teaching the disciples in the main hall when he saw this new disciple at the mountain gate; The long eyebrows were gray, the temples were snowy and frosty, and the upper body was shirtless and wet.

"Why is this person dressed like this when he first sees Master? Where's his shirt?" The fifth ancestor looked at it, and after a while, he realized that he had wrapped the two suitcases he was carrying tightly with his shirt.

The Fifth Ancestor pointed to Shenxiu's luggage and asked, "What is in your box?"

After Shenxiu gave the salute, he replied, "It's half of my life's savings." ”

The Fifth Ancestor inquired and asked, "Is it gold and silver, or jewelry?"

Shenxiu wiped the rain from his head with his hand and said, "Gold and silver jewelry are just dead things, and they are useless things in our Buddhism. How can you deserve such my love?"

Fifth Ancestor: "So, what are the good things in the box?"

"Master, please take a look." Shenxiu said, lifting the wrapped clothes and opening the box.

The Five Ancestors looked at it, and it turned out to be two large boxes of books. He flipped through the books and saw that in addition to the Four Books and the Five Classics and some books on astronomy and geography, there were more books on various scriptures.

The Fifth Ancestor sighed: "You love books very much!" You're not afraid of getting wet in the rain?"

Shenxiu looked serious: "If you have gonorrhea, you can find medicine to eat, and it will recover in a few days." But it's hard to get the books dirty. ”

"Ah," a wave of enthusiasm hit the hearts of the five ancestors. In Dongchan Temple, he has seven or eight hundred disciples, but there are very few people like him after all.

The first time they talked, the five ancestors already had an excellent impression of Shenxiu.

After hearing the origin of Shenxiu, the Fifth Ancestor replied to each other and asked: "Your cultivation is not shallow, and you can already take charge of yourself in Luoyang, open your own method, and become a master." Why did you come to me to join the counselor?"

Shen Xiu said loudly: "The disciple knows that his foundation is shallow, and he does not dare to open the Fa without permission. As the saying goes, good birds choose trees to perch on. Master, I know that you are the only mentor I have been looking for for for many years. “

The fifth ancestor looked at him and said slowly: "Look at your appearance, you should be more than half a hundred years old." ”

Shenxiu spoke loudly: "Regardless of the order of the Buddha, he defected to the virtuous master, so why should he talk about his age?"

The Five Ancestors were puzzled: "Luoyang is a prosperous place with a lot of believers, why did you leave Luoyang and run to this remote Twin Peaks Mountain?"

Shenxiu's words gushed: "The material of the building is out of the valley, and it is not available to the world." In order to stay away from people, not to be damaged by swords and axes. When it grows into a big thing, it can be used as a pillar. Therefore, it is known that the valley of the god is far away, and the hustle and bustle is far away, and the mountains are nourished, and the mundane things are long and said. At present, there is nothing, the heart is at peace, and from then on, the trees and flowers bloom, and the fruits of the Zen forest are also out. ”

The Fifth Ancestor was taken aback: "Shenxiu, this is a conversation between the teacher and others on weekdays, how can it reach your mouth?"

"Master's Dharma is boundless and glorious all over the world. Before going to Dongchan Temple, I am really honored to hear the good words of your master," Shenxiu said seriously, "Although there are many believers in Luoyang, they are just a mixture of fish and dragons. Disciple, I am determined to seek the Buddha, not to be noisy and prosperous, let alone to seek any vanity and fame, but to seek the Dharma in a real way. Master's Dharma, the whole world hears of it, of course I have to give up everything and go to the door, why am I afraid of the tranquility of the Twin Peaks Mountain?"

The Fifth Patriarch asked, "After you arrive at the Dongchan Temple, how do you plan to study the Fa?"

Shenxiu replied with determination: "I myself will devote myself to cultivation, read the scriptures diligently, and meditate on meditation." Coupled with the ignition of the ancestors, one day is better than ten years of study. ”

Fifth Patriarch: "You must know that anyone who comes to my Dongchan Temple to study the Fa has to go through a period of tempering. Do those miscellaneous work such as collecting firewood and grinding. Aren't you afraid of hardship?"

Shenxiu straightened his chest: "Thousands of searches are hard, and the yellow sand is blown away to see gold." When you step into the Buddha's door, you must vow to be bitter and determined to seek the Tao. Being able to learn Buddhism with the master in Dongchan Temple, even if it is a great suffering, the disciples can endure it. ”

The Fifth Ancestor waved his hand outwards and said, "Then, you should go to the miscellaneous room in the North Courtyard to work first." ”

"Yes." Shenxiu picked up his two boxes of books and went to the north courtyard.

In the days that followed, Shenxiu really did not live up to his words, carrying water, collecting firewood, grinding and scooping rice...... Although he is older than the other monks, he rushes to do everything, and he does his best to do it, and he is never lazy. Whether it is a hot time or a harsh winter season, Tozenji Temple is flooded by heavy night, and when everyone else is asleep, only a small oil lamp is still lit in Shenxiu's room.

In the dead of night, the five ancestors quietly walked to the Bodhi tree not far from the monk's room in the north courtyard many times, and through the window lattice, they saw Shenxiu burying his head in the small oil lamp in the dim and dim reading the scriptures. Mosquitoes stung him on the cheek, and he ignored his reading.

Looking at Shenxiu's hard-working appearance, the five ancestors, who had always been like water, couldn't help but be passionate, and were glad that such a good disciple came to Dongchan Temple.

In the daily contact and conversation with Shenxiu, the five ancestors found that he was familiar with the Four Books and Five Classics, astronomy and geography, and compared with other monks in the Dongchan Temple, he was more knowledgeable and stood out from the crowd. Therefore, this knowledgeable disciple is the most important.

After inspecting Shenxiu for seven years, the Fifth Patriarch personally shaved him and re-named him: "Shenxiu", which means to praise him for his "Shensi Xiuhui". And he was promoted to the first disciple of the Theravada among the ten disciples of Dongchan Temple, and let him teach the Dharma on behalf of the teacher, as the "Theravada" professor in the temple, specializing in explaining the scriptures and interpreting the scriptures for the monks who have not practiced deeply, and solving doubts and riddles.

From then on, whenever the Five Ancestors appeared, Shenxiu was always by his side. And Shenxiu is very respectful of the five ancestors.

The five ancestors often praised Shenxiu in front of the elders and disciples of Dongchan Temple, praising him for learning Zen scriptures and righteousness, concentrating on his ambition, Taoism and law, and outstanding talent. Once, when he was interested, the five ancestors once said in public: "The law of Dongshan is all in Xiu." ”

Therefore, people up and down the temple unanimously agreed; In the Dongchan Temple, Shenxiu's comprehension is the highest, and he is the future heir to the mantle of the five ancestors Hongren Master, and the future six ancestors of Zen Buddhism must be him. So, Master Hongnin gave the task of teaching his disciples on a daily basis to Shenxiu with confidence.

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