When the mage heard this, he stood there as if he had been electrocuted.

A few wasps, presumably trying to make a nest, smelled the paper in the scroll and fell on it to gnaw on the paper.

The young Zen monk sighed and said with a pun: "Alas, you bees, the world is so vast, you don't go to the flowers to collect honey, but you have to gnaw ancient paper." It's good that you can digest the ancient paper after chewing it, but you use it as a nest and trap yourself in a more narrow world. What a pity! ”

The middle-aged mage was like thunder, looking at the young Zen monk blankly.

The young Zen monk blushed and said to himself shyly: "I am not as good as the old woman, I have just come from the middle of the original and have not yet met the Sixth Patriarch Master, I don't know if I am qualified to worship under his old man's house to learn the Fa." ”

At this time, Ying Xing walked up to the middle-aged mage's bundle of books and caught a small worm - silverfish - bookworm from the yellowed ancient paper. He smiled and said to it, "Ah, you little fellow, you also eat a full stomach of scriptures, can you also be called a 'little mage'?" ”

The middle-aged mage's face was full of embarrassment and dissatisfaction.

The baby went his own way, and continued to say to the little silverfish: "Your luck is so good, what you eat in your stomach is the Buddhist scriptures, so you are arrogant and boastful all day long, but you are respected by people." And the other bookworm is not as lucky as you. It is full of martial arts secrets, and it is impossible to live forever, thinking that it is the best in the world in kung fu. When it goes out to walk the rivers and lakes, it encounters flies, flies bully it, it encounters bed bugs, and bed bugs oppress it, and even the black shell lang can beat its nose and face to be swollen. It was so angry that it found the owner of the martial arts secret and complained, 'My belly is full of martial arts tricks, and the tricks are invincible in the world, and the tricks used by those little insects are very ordinary, but why am I always beaten by them and can't find the north?' The master smiled and said, 'What is the use of your food but not melting, no matter how many tricks you have, no matter how good you are?' ’”

When the middle-aged mage heard this, his heart trembled. Yes, like the silverfish, you have learned to be full of wealth, but whenever troubles arise, you are not at all useful; You also understand every truth of Buddhism, but whenever good times and bad times come, your heart will involuntarily drift with it, and when you are aware of it and regret it in every way, the fifteenth day of the first month will stick to the door god - it is too late!

At this moment, the donkey, which was tied to the tree, probably felt unfree, and struggled to break free from the reins.

The young Zen monk borrowed the topic to play: "A sentence of the head, ten thousand lineages of donkey peg." The scriptures are meant to be tools for indicating the truth, but if they are regarded as the truth itself, rather than fixing themselves on the stake on which the donkey is tethered, it will be even more difficult to break free! ”

The middle-aged mage was no longer hungry, but full of belly—he was ashamed and full of his own incompetence. He was eager to find a crack in the ground to get into, so as not to be embarrassed in front of an old woman and two young offspring......

Naturally, he didn't find the crack in the ground, and even if he did, he couldn't get in. So, he had no choice but to pick up the burden, panic like a thief who was discovered, and flee in the wilderness!

After the middle-aged mage left, Ying Xing stretched out his arms and let out a cheer of victory. Happy enough, he turned to the young Zen monk and said, "You are very good. What's your name? ”

The young Zen monk said; "Huairang."

"You sit here for a while, wait for me to load the salt, and I'll take you up the mountain."

Huai Rang said, "Thank you, Senior Brother, for your kindness." I think I can touch the place myself. ”

"With me leading the way, you won't take a detour. Besides, with my introduction, it is more likely that my master, the Sixth Patriarch, will take you in as an apprentice. ”

Huai Rang said solemnly: "Senior brother, I'm hungry, can you eat instead of me?" Therefore, it is better to go your own way. In this way, although it may be a bend, it is more deeply experienced, at least, the strength of the feet is exercised. ”

With that, Huai Rang got up and walked in the direction of Baoling Temple.

Ying Xing couldn't help but be stunned. He looked at Huairang's back and muttered, "This guy, like his surname, seems to have a lot of origins......"

Indeed, this Huai Rang really has a very good history.

According to the third volume of the "Ancestral Hall Collection", it is recorded that on the eighth day of the fourth month of the second year of the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang Dynasty (677 AD), on the Christmas day of the Buddha Shakyamuni, six white rui qi burst out from Ankang in Jinzhou (now Hanyin, Shaanxi) and went straight to the sky.

Since ancient times, almost all the emperors of China have liked all kinds of auspicious and auspicious signs, so Lord Assassin Shi did not dare to slack off and immediately reported to the imperial court.

Tang Gaozong Li Zhi asked Tai Shi Ling: "What is this qi?" "You can't be white in the earth for no reason, right?

Tai Shiling explained: "Shakyamuni Buddha's birthday is naturally related to Buddhism. The six white rui qi symbolize the six realms and the six realms of Buddhism, indicating the birth of a high monk. It lies in the Golden State and Ankang. ”

At this time, Jinzhou Taishou Han Kai also recorded and played after seeing Ruixiang.

So, Emperor Gaozong ordered Han Kai to personally go to the family where the baby was born to offer condolences and congratulations. Han Kai traced back to the roots, followed the vine, and found a family surnamed Du Mingguangqi.

The person who was born in response to Rui is Huairang.

At the age of 15, Huairang went to Jingzhou Yuquan Temple to become a monk. At that time, Yuquan Temple was a famous temple in the world, and it was common for monks to gather, and it became common to study teachings and study precepts.

Huai Rang has been studying and cultivating the law here for seven or eight years, and his heart is still like a cloud of black paint, his heart is unclear, and his sexual light has not appeared. He knew that the current method of practice did not cut into the roots of Buddhism, and was not the best way to enter the Zen machine. For the comprehension of Zen, it can be said that it is not the essence and is not suitable for oneself.

So, he resolutely gave up the step-by-step life of the famous mountain and the big temple, and came to Zhongyue with a fellow staff member, Tanran Zen Master.

At that time, the abbot of Songshan was Lao An, one of the top ten disciples of the Five Ancestors Hongren, who was as famous as Shenxiu and the Six Ancestors.

Lao An Zen Master stayed calmly, and just glanced at Huai Rang, and said: "I am not your master, your master is in Caoxi." ”

When sending him to Caoxi, Lao An Zen Master said inexplicably: "Back then, I ate a grain of Dao (rice) seed because of the six ancestors, and today I will give him a Buddha seed!" ”

With the encouragement of Lao An Zen Master, Huai Rang traveled thousands of miles from the prosperous Central Plains to Lingnan, a remote and remote wilderness.

When he walked along the clear Cao Creek to the gate of Baolin Temple, it was dusk.

As if the Sixth Patriarch had known that he was coming, he happened to be standing on the high steps outside the temple gate.

The setting sun sprinkled gold paved a layer of gold dust for the long stone steps of Baoling Temple, like a golden road to heaven.

Indeed, in Huairang's view, this is nothing less than the Golden Avenue on the road to heaven.

I don't know if the body of the Sixth Ancestor is really shining, or the afterglow of the sunset is reflected from the side, there is a golden halo around the body outline of the Sixth Ancestor, which makes him look a little mysterious and sacred; A little cordial, a little dignified; How much cool, how much compassion......

"Where are you from?" An ordinary word, because it came from the mouth of the sixth patriarch of Zen Buddhism, is full of infinite Zen opportunities.

If you feel something, if you feel something, if you have something, if you have something, if you have understanding, but you can't start and can't get in.

He was a little shy, and there was a faint red tide on his face. He lowered his head a little embarrassed and muttered, "Disciple Huairang, from Songshan." ”

"What kind of thing is coming from?" The Sixth Ancestor asked strangely.

Huai Rang couldn't help but sweat like rain—there seemed to be something in his chest, but he couldn't pour it all out at once. He felt guilty and hung his head deeply.

The Sixth Ancestor patted him on the shoulder kindly: "You can stay for the time being." After saying that, he drifted away, and the wide monk's robe swayed in the wind, as if he was about to fly towards the sunset.

Huai Rang said to himself: "What kind of thing is coming......

On this day, a young monk who was born short and fat and had an arrogant attitude walked into the mountain gate of Baoling Temple with his head tilted.

This monk Dharma name Fada, Hongzhou Fengcheng people, seven years old monk, has been reciting the "Lotus Sutra", after receiving the full ordination, that is, to Cao Xi, he thinks that he has been reciting the "Lotus Sutra", the merit is not small, so I am slow, his Zen staff shook the ground and rattled, as if to tell others, I am coming, you all get out of the way for me!

Fahai, who had already become the clerk of the Sixth Ancestor, greeted him warmly, and Shi Li asked, "Monk, where are you from, and do you need my help with anything?" ”

The young monk did not return the salute, and said arrogantly: "I heard that you have made an illiterate homeless man to pretend to be the sixth ancestor. Take me to see how high his Mount Meru is! ”

Fahai was not angry, not arrogant or impatient, and said: "The six ancestors are illiterate, it's not that you say that you can't read and write, but the six ancestors are definitely not pretending." If you would like to see my Master, I can let you know first. ”

The young monk snorted disdainfully.

Fahai came to the abbot's courtyard, and the sixth ancestor was sitting on a rattan chair in the shade of a tree to discuss things with the senior brother Xingsi.

As soon as Fahai whispered a few words to his master, the sound of the young monk's Zen staff hitting the ground was already heard, and the air in the courtyard trembled.

The Sixth Ancestor and Xingsi looked at each other and smiled, as if they were used to this kind of behavior.

Under the corridor, babies are boiling water on the stove. The water in the pot was boiling and steaming.

Xingsi pointed to the kettle and said meaningfully: "The water for boiling tea is for tea when it is opened to half of it, and it is for soup when it is opened to ten minutes." ”

The baby asked, "What should I do then?" ”

Xingsi said decisively: "It's too hot, you pour a scoop of cold water on its head!" ”

The sixth ancestor said: "Instead of raising the soup to stop boiling, it is better to draw salary from the bottom of the kettle." ”

As they spoke, the young monk had already approached them. Seeing that the Sixth Patriarch and the others ignored him, and there was an insinuation in his speech, he slammed the Zen staff on the ground to attract their attention.

Xu was the vibration of the Zen staff, and a leaf that had withered and yellowed due to the disease fell to the ground.

The sixth ancestor picked it up and sighed at the leaves: "It's a good time, you don't grow well, but you get sick and yellow, it's a pity, it's a pity!" ”

Fahai glanced at the monk and said, "Who told him to provoke the insect infestation himself, he deserves it!" ”

The Sixth Ancestor smiled: "So, Fahai, you said, the branches and leaves of this tree, some are thriving, some are yellow and shriveling, is it better to be prosperous or withered?" ”

Fahai smiled: "Of course, it is the vibrant, thriving leaves. ”

The Sixth Ancestor nodded and said, "If it is, if it is so, then go to Rong." ”

The Sixth Ancestor asked Xingsi again: "Is it better to be prosperous, or is it better to wither?" ”

This is definitely not a repetition of this move, but another Zen machine.

Xingsi actually replied: "It's good to wither." ”

The Sixth Ancestor still nodded: "If it is, if it is, then let it go with the flow." ”

Ask the baby again.

Ying Xing is extremely smart, and he thinks that he will be able to answer better, and says without thinking: "Let the withered let him wither, and the prosperous let him be glorious." ”

How complete and chic the answer was! Even the arrogant young monk had a look of admiration in his eyes.

However, the Sixth Ancestor Master shook his head and said, "No, no. Go with the flow and comprehend the Zen machine in nature, which is advocated by almost every generation of patriarchs. However, Zen is not pure nature, and Zen practitioners oppose laissez-faire, and emphasize human initiative and initiative. We, as children of nature, abandon evil and promote good, and transform ourselves, which is nature; To control one's own destiny and make it more in line with the laws of life in the universe is to truly go with the flow. This is the reason why a Zen person is a true wise man! ”

Saying that, the eyes of the six ancestors were like warm fingers, caressing the face of the young monk, and he suddenly understood the words of the six ancestors, but he couldn't let go of the arrogant shelf, and reluctantly knelt down for the six ancestors, and said: "Wandering monk Fada, come to worship the mountain." ”

The reason why he said "worshipping the mountain" instead of worshipping the ancestors shows that he still looks down on the six ancestors in his heart. When he kowtowed, his forehead did not touch the ground.

Ying Xing jumped over, pointed to his head and said, "You are young, and it is a big mistake to meet the arrogant and rude elder; And then he kowtowed and did not touch the ground, which was even more wrong than wrong. If you have no respect, you might as well not prostrate! ”

With his own cleverness, Fada said disapprerovingly: "The four monks are empty, so why bother with formalities? Besides, if I kowtow and don't touch the ground and bow down, it's equivalent to touching the ground and bowing, so why do you have to tell so clearly? ”

Xing Si smiled: "You have some eloquence. Transcending all forms in the world, not being trapped by forms, this is indeed Zen. ”

Fada became more and more proud, and glanced at the six ancestors. Who knows, Ying Xing jumped up unexpectedly and slapped him hard - "pop"!

Fada was furious and shouted, "Monks, why are you so rude? He even started beating people! ”

Ying Xing said-for-tat, "If I beat you, I didn't beat you, so why should you be so serious about parting?" ”

With his spear and his shield, Fada was stunned.

Ying Xing once suffered from the dust of the six ancestors because of this kind of thing, and this time he finally got back the capital from Fada. He didn't give up and said, "Besides, the four major monks are empty, your body belongs to the earth, and it should have been empty a long time ago. If you feel pain, it proves that you haven't cultivated to the four great emptiness, and I'm here to help you practice! ”

Fada looked embarrassed, and everyone couldn't help but laugh.

Ying Xing also said: "If you are now separated when you are beaten, and you can feel the difference between being beaten and not being beaten, then it proves that your forehead did not touch the ground when you kowtowed just now, and it was deliberately rude." Shouldn't the rude be beaten? ”

Fada was speechless, and his arrogance retreated.

The Sixth Ancestor spoke: "Where are you from?" You must have something hidden in your heart! ”

"I am from Hongzhou, Jiangxi. He became a monk at the age of seven, and once read the Tripitaka in retreat, with 10,000 volumes of scriptures in his chest. I have recited the Lotus Sutra more than 3,000 times so far! As he spoke, Fada's head was tilted up again, and he was very proud of his hard work.

"If you read to the ten thousand, and get what it wants, and do not think it is victorious, then walk with me. Thou hast not yet done this (if thou hast read it 10,000 times and have understood the gist of the scripture and have not thought that there is anything special or great about it, then you can walk hand in hand with me.) Now you have failed the original purpose of chanting the scriptures, and you don't know what you are doing.) The Sixth Ancestor said, pouring tea into an empty bowl, "This tea bowl, I don't know if it has tasted tea after hundreds of thousands of times?" The brush that printed the Lotus Sutra has read the Sutra thousands of times, but I have never seen it become a Buddha! In the same way, it is useless to read it ten thousand times with an arrogant appearance like yours! ”

When Fada heard this, he couldn't help but hang his head.

The Sixth Patriarch continued: "Monks bow not only to show respect for others, but also to convince their own 'I am slow'. This is because, once the habit of arrogance remains in the minds of the monks, if the 'self-grasping' is not eliminated, they will not be able to realize the truth of life in the universe. You just recite the sutras verbally, but you don't understand the meaning of the sutras. ”

The sixth ancestor took a sip of tea, knocked lightly on the stone table with his hand, and said to the beat:

The gift book is slowed down,

Don't taunt the ground?

If I sin live,

The death is a blessing.

The Sixth Ancestor then asked, "What's your name?" ”

The young monk said, "Fada." ”

The Sixth Patriarch said: "Your name is Fada, how can you ever reach the Fa?" ”

So, the sixth ancestor said again:

Thou art Fada,

The recitation is not stopped.

Empty recitation but following the sound,

Bodhisattva of the Bright Heart.

Thou hast a reason for this,

I speak for you.

But believing in the Buddha is silent,

Lianhua from the mouth.