Besides, when Yangshan silently accompanied Shenxiu in retreat for 15 years, Xiao Shami, who was boiling water in the furnace outside the house, suddenly listened to the chanting in the window:

All the Dharma is inherent in the mind. He begged out of his heart, and fled away from his father.

Immediately, Shenxiu, who was already seventy years old, walked out of the room.

The young monk bowed and said, "Congratulations, you have been in retreat for fifteen years, and today you have finally completed your merits. ”

Shenxiu returned the salute and said: "The water drops are worn by stones, and the rope is sawed and the wood is broken." After fifteen years of hard work, I finally got through the final Zen pass. In the past fifteen years, you have been protecting me, and you have worked hard for you. ”

The young monk said respectfully, "It is my honor to contribute my modest contribution to your enlightenment. ”

Shenxiu said solemnly: "From today on, you are my disciple, and the law name is Zhicheng." ”

"Thank you, Master, for giving me my Dharma name!" Zhicheng knelt down and saluted.

……

At that time, the abbot of the Faxing Temple in Guangzhou was the Facai Zen Master, and Master Yinzong was invited by him to give lectures. Master Yinzong is famous for his mastery of the Nirvana Sutra, and is respected as the first master of Lingnan. He is originally from Wu County and has been a monk since childhood.

In the first year of Xianheng (670 AD), he traveled to Jingluo. Tang Gaozong was impressed by his morality and practice, and personally issued an edict to invite him to abbot Dajing Ai Temple. But he didn't care about this great glory and walked away.

He went south from the capital to Huangmei to meet the five ancestors Hongren Master, and was very tempered by a Zen machine and edified by the edge.

Later, he came to Guangzhou and gave a lecture on the Nirvana Sutra at the Dharma Temple. By chance, I met Huineng.

Hui Neng, accompanied by Yin Zong, Facai and other senior monks, walked towards the abbot.

On the way, the old monk who had participated in the battle of the wind flags suddenly sighed; "The robe handed down by the five ancestors is really magical, just like this spring breeze blowing in the face, the world becomes colorful and green when it blows gently, and it is particularly beautiful."

How could Hui Neng not hear his voice, smiled lightly, and said, "What does the mage mean is that Hui Neng relied on the mantle of the Five Ancestors to receive such a grand welcome and reception, right?" ”

The old monk said: "Since ancient times, the mantle and the Dharma have been taught at the same time. The mantle is something outside the body, and the Dharma is the secret evidence of the heart. Although we had already worshiped the robes just now, we didn't know who had received the will of the five ancestors. Is it you, Master Shenxiu, or someone else? It is said that Master Hongnin has ten disciples! ”

Huineng stopped and looked into the eyes of the old monk. The old monk was shocked and lowered his head.

Huineng saw that cold sweat was oozing from his forehead, and said lightly, "Those who understand Buddhism have to go." ”

The old monk asked unwillingly: "Then may I ask the master, have you gotten it?" ”

Hui Neng unexpectedly replied, "I don't know the Dharma!" ”

Hearing such an answer, the old monk didn't know what to do. Fortunately, the chamber arrived, and Yin Zong and Fa Cai invited Hui Neng into the room. Everyone was polite and sat down.

Ying Xing and Fakong were busy making tea and pouring water. He specially put a spoonful of sugar into Huineng's teacup and mixed it into a cup of sweet tea.

Master Yinzong took a sip of the teacup, coughed lightly, and asked Huineng: "Dare to ask the Sixth Patriarch, although Zen Buddhism preaches and does not teach outside the teachings and does not set up words, I wonder if you can reveal a little bit of the instructions made by the Fifth Ancestor when he handed over the mantle to you?" ”

Hui Neng knew in his heart that Master Yin Zong was inspecting him.

So, he also took a sip of tea and said calmly: "Master, the old man only talked about some issues of clarity of mind, but did not talk about the principles of meditation and liberation. ”

The old monk couldn't help but interject and said, "This is also called teaching the Fa? ”

Huineng said solemnly: "This is the method that directly points out the true heart of human beings, allows us to see our own inherent Buddha nature, and then become a Buddha!" ”

Master Yin Zong was puzzled and asked, "Why don't you talk about the principle of sitting meditation to achieve liberation?" ”

"Because meditation and liberation are two methods, not the Dharma. Buddhism is the only way. ”

Master Yin Zong said, "What is the only way to practice Buddhism? Please ask the Master to give a detailed explanation. ”

Huineng said to Master Yinzong, "Master was going to talk about the Nirvana Sutra today, right? A few years ago, I discussed the Nirvana Sutra with the Endless Tibetan Nun in Cao Xi, and I knew a little bit about it. I distinctly remember that Buddha-nature was repeatedly spoken of in the scriptures. The nature of a Buddha is the only way to dharma. For example, the Bodhisattva asked the Buddha and asked, 'Is it true that there are people who kill, steal, commit adultery, cheat, do all kinds of evil, kill their parents, destroy the Three Jewels, and do not believe in cause and effect and do not repent? The Buddha replied, 'There are two kinds of good roots, one is eternal and the other is instantaneous; However, there is no such thing as eternal and instantaneous Buddha nature, so Buddha nature is continuous, and this is called the only way. The five precepts and ten virtues are good, and the five rebellions and ten evils are evil, but there is no difference between good and evil in Buddha nature. ’”

The old monk who loved to lift the bar seemed to have found some flaw in Huineng's words, and asked: "If there is no distinction between good and evil, won't people become grass and trees?" ”

Hui Neng said with a smile: "You are right, people who study Buddhism do not want to be like plants and trees, not to distinguish between good and evil, but not to rejoice and flatter because of good people and good deeds, nor to be resentful and angry because of evil people and evil deeds, let alone to judge and observe things based on their own likes and dislikes, interests and disadvantages. Those who study Buddhism should face the world with the intention of equality and non-difference, so that all beings and things can be presented as they are. Therefore, the Diamond Sutra says, 'The mind should be born without dwelling.'" I wonder if you think so? ”

The old monk nodded sincerely this time.

Huineng went on to say, "Buddha-nature is a state that is far from eternity and transience, beauty and ugliness, good and evil, and is completely above distinction, which is the only dharma. ”

Master Yin Zong couldn't help but be overjoyed, clasped his hands together, and said loudly, "Amitabha! The words of the six ancestors, the poor monks sounded like drinking sweet springs, and the taste was only known to themselves. It is a poor monk who is confused, in fact, this is the only way, the "Vimala Sutra" has been very clear, but a leaf of obscure, not to see Mount Tai, by the six ancestors of the teaching, suddenly enlightened. ”

At this time, Ying Xing, who had been listening, jumped out and said thoughtlessly: "You stupid people are still known as the descendants of Zen Buddhism, how can you forget the second ancestor Hui Ke?" ”

So, everyone immediately remembered a long-ago story -

Bodhidharma Patriarch taught Zen in Songshan Shaolin Temple for nine years, and there were four main disciples: Dao Deputy, Dao Yu, Bhikshuni Chief and Hui Ke, who broke his arm in order to seek the Dharma. In order to understand their state of practice, Patriarch Bodhidharma asked each of them to talk about their experience of meditation over the years.

The Taoist deputy spoke first: "In my opinion, not setting up words, not leaving words, is the wonderful use of Zen. ”

Bodhidharma said, "You have learned my skin. ”

The chief bhikshuni said, "As far as I understand, it's like a Buddha who sees the immovable Buddha kingdom in the East in meditation, and he understands it as soon as he sees it, and he doesn't need to see it again. ”

Patriarch Bodhidharma nodded slightly: "You learned my meat." ”

Daoyu has followed the master for many years, and the Zen essentials taught by Patriarch Bodhidharma, such as "Bodhidharma's Four Elements View" and other works, were recorded and sorted out by him. He said, "The four essences are void and the five aggregates are non-existent, so in my opinion, there is no way to attain it. ”

Bodhidharma smiled and said, "Yes, Zen, it is the communication between the heart and the heart, and there is nothing to be gained. You learned my bones. ”

At this time, Hui Ke stood up, walked up to the master, folded his hands, bowed, and then silently returned to his position.

Master Bodhidharma laughed heartily because of this, and frequently bowed his head and said, "Okay, good! Hui Ke, you have finally lived up to the meaning that I came from the western heavens. Only you can truly appreciate the essence of Zen! ”

The essence of Zen is formless, formless, indescribable, incredible, and cannot be explained in any words. However, our Zen mind is clear and functioning all the time. Whether it is a gesture or drinking tea and eating, it is a manifestation of the mind. Therefore, Hui Ke's series of movements, such as namaste and bowing, are all demonstrating the wonderful use of Zen to the Master.