Snow in August (9 page)

To puzzle and perplex;

And like a drizzle in the fog,

It can’t be pushed away,

It can’t be shoved along.

But can it ever be cut off?

Huineng:

Learned audience!

Maha Prajnaparamita
are Sanskrit words. In the language of our nation they mean “great wisdom on the other shore.” When one chooses to tread the path of enlighten-ment, one’s
Dharma
body is the same as that of the Buddha.

Maha
is “great.” The mind’s capacity is great, as great as that of the void. It encompasses the sun, the moon, the stars, the great earth, the mountains and rivers, all the myriad trees and plants, the good and the bad people, the good and the bad laws, and Heaven and Hell. They are all included in the void of “
Maha
.”

Human nature is the same; it is a void. All truths are but self-nature, which is revealed in humans as well as non-humans. One should not be attached to any truth, be it meritorious or otherwise. Earth, water, fire and air are the four
Mahabhutas
, or the four elements. They are but illusions and therefore belong to the void. The deluded only recite the
Dharma
with their mouths, the enlightened practice it with their heart!

Crowd:

(
Sing
.)

For great wisdom,

To the other shore!

The four Mahabhutas are illusions,

All is empty, all is void!

Singsong Girl:

(
Loudly
.)

Emptiness indeed! A woman, what will she be doing going to the other shore?

(
Sings
.)

The myriad poses and alluring looks,

The unceasing wonderment,

The twists and turns,

The endless changes and mutations,

The pains inflicted on women,

How can a man understand? (Exit.)

Huineng:

Learned audience, please listen carefully!

Troubles are the same as enlightenment. A deluded first thought, which clings to attachment, makes one an ordinary man; an enlightened second thought, which frees one from attachment, makes one a Buddha.

Learned audience!

The wisdom of
Maha Prajnaparamita
is the most exalted, the highest, and the foremost. It is not attached to anything, not to the past, the present or the future, but all the Buddhas of the past, the present, and the future have attained and will attain their Buddhahood through its teachings. This great wisdom will guide us to the other shore and break up the troubles and defilements in the five
Skandhas
! Those who understand this
Dharma
will be free from thoughts, free from memories, and free from attachments. In this way, one is able to make use of wisdom to observe and to illuminate. At the same time, one does not need to take or leave any Dharma; he only has to realize his self-nature to become a Buddha. All sentient beings are Buddha!

Learned audience, chant after me!

Crowd:

(
Sing
.)

Sentient beings are infinite in number,

We vow to deliver them all;

Troubles are infinite in number,

We vow to sever them all.

Troubles are no different from Bodhi,

All sentient beings are Buddha!

[
Enter Writer from one side of the stage. He stands and stops to listen
.

Huineng:

Learned audience!

We say that “sentient beings are infinite in number,” and we say that “we vow to deliver them all.” But I, Huineng, cannot accomplish the deliverance on your behalf, you must do it yourselves through your self-nature.

Within our physical body there are improprieties, troubles, foolishness, and delusions. We should deliver them by our innate awareness of propriety. Together with
Prajna
Wisdom, this enlightenment will remove ignorance and delusions, so that each of the sentient beings will be able to deliver themselves.

We say that “Troubles are infinite in number,” and we say that “we vow to sever them all.” This means that we should remove the illusions and fallacies from our mind, thereby obtaining self-enlightenment and Buddhahood. Buddha is all sentient beings; all sentient beings are Buddha.

(Clasps his palms.)

Crowd:

(
Chant
.)

Shanzai
!
It is good
!

Shanzai
!
It is good
!

Huineng:

(
Stretching out his hands
.)

Let me teach you all the disciplinary rules of formless-ness.

(
Goes down the pulpit and walks about among the crowd to teach them
.)

Crowd:

(
Sing
.)

All sentient beings are Buddha,

Buddha is us.

[
Exit Crowd, their head lowered. Writer moves forward
.

Writer:

Master, can you teach me too?

Huineng:

Teach you what?

(
Writer draws a circle on his head with his hand
.)

Huineng:

Sinner! Come back some other day.

Writer:

Where can I find you?

Huineng:

If you really want to find me, you’ll know where to find me. (
Exit laughing
.)

[
Enter Singsong Girl again amid music
.

Writer:

Lady, what kind of songs can you sing for me?

Singsong Girl:

I’m here to entertain. What else can I sing about other than love, romance, boy-meets-girl, or things like that? Just tell me what you want to hear and I’ll sing it for you.

Mister, are you in a hurry to go to the capital for the civil examination? Or are you one of those talented scholars longing for recognition?

Writer:

I’m doing nothing at present, just spending my life playing games. But I can’t really get myself to sever my ties with the world either. I’m still a man of the world.

Let me see. Why don’t you sing “Snow in August”?

Singsong Girl Mister, is there snow in August?

[
Zither music halts abruptly. Exit both Writer and Singsong Girl
.

Act II　Scene 4

In Which the Patriarch Passes Away

[
“Small drum” (for marking time) is beaten twice. Enter two guards
.

Guard:

Where is the abbot of the temple?

[
Enter Fahai with four monks
.

Fahai:

Who is it that dares to barge in here? Don’t you know that the temple is a place of quietude?

[
Enter Head Guard
.

Head Guard:

Make way for General Xue Jian, eunuch of the Imperial Palace!

[
Enter Xue Jian and a guard
.

Fahai:

I’m Fahai. I must apologize for not welcoming you at the front door!

Xue Jian:

His Majesty has handed down an imperial edict. In great haste, I have come from the capital, traveling day and night without tarrying. Please send for Master Huineng on the instant so that he may receive His Majesty’s edict.

Fahai:

Amitahba! Go call Master Huineng! Quick!

Monks:

(
Passing on the word from one to another
.)

An Imperial edict!

Goodness gracious! Something big has happened!

Tell the Grand Master to come at once!

[
Exit one of the monks, running
.

Fahai:

May I ask the general to enter the guest chamber to change and take a bath?

Xue Jian:

There is no need.

Fahai:

For years I have been serving the master on the moun-tain, therefore I have no knowledge of the protocol for receiving an imperial edict. I hope the general will expound it for me so that I can make preparations by burning incense sticks and make obeisance—

[
Enter Huineng holding a staff in his hand, helped along by a monk
.

Huineng:

Please accept my deepest apology. I am unaware of the reason why the imperial court is involved and why your lordship had to undertake such an arduous journey. Please let me be enlightened.

Xue Jian:

I am Xue Jian, eunuch of the imperial court. By order of the Empress Dowager Zetian and the His Majesty Zhongzong, you hereby are to receive the imperial edict!

Huineng:

(
Clasps his palms to make obeisance and receives the imperial edict
.)

Huineng has not learned to read or write, may I trouble the honorable eunuch to read out His Majesty’s royal letter? I will listen attentively, so that I will know what crime I have committed!

Xue Jian:

The excellent teachings of the Grand Master have traveled far and wide and are respected by both Heaven and men. Why should there be any crime? The Empress Dowager and His Majesty in the royal palace are full of great admiration for the Grand Master and long for your presence, despite a distance of ten thousand miles. Therefore they have sent your humble servant to tender an invitation requesting the Grand Master’s presence at the royal palace, where there will be a temple for your exclusive use. May I ask the Grand Master to make preparations and set off for the capital as soon as possible? Your humble servant will be your escort!

Huineng:

I’m old and my feet are not well. I can’t walk far.

Xue Jian:

This matters not. We have brought along a steed for your use. The Grand Master doesn’t even have to walk an inch, and there are post stations that will provide for and look after your needs. There’s really nothing to worry about.

Huineng:

I have a bad back. I can’t ride horses.

Xue Jian:

Then we’ll use a carriage. We can carry you on and off the carriage. And the driver will look after everything.

Huineng:

These old bones of mine, I’m afraid they’ll end up all broken and cracked before I arrive at the capital and present myself to the Empress Dowager and His Majesty. I might even have to trouble His Majesty to pick up my scattered bones. This will not do! This will definitely not do!

Xue Jian:

But I have orders to follow. How am I going to answer to His Majesty?

Huineng:

I’m a poor man, I have nothing in my possession except this
kasaya
robe handed down to me by my teacher. Let me give it to you and trouble you to present it to the Empress Dowager and His Majesty. In this way, I can requite in part His Majesty’s solicitude.

Xue Jian:

It’s His Majesty’s wish to summon you, not your kasaya robe! What’s the use of having the rags worn by a monk? This edict is in His Majesty’s handwriting. Don’t be rude and give him the snub!

(
Xue Jian takes one step forward and puts his hand on his sword
.)

Huineng:

(Bends down.)

You want this?

Xue Jian
What?

Huineng:

(
Sticks his head out
.)

Just take it.

Xue Jian:

Take what?

Huineng:

This old monk’s head!

Xue Jian:

What’s the meaning of this?

Huineng:

Doesn’t His Majesty want to have me? Just take it.

Xue Jian:

His Majesty wants you to go to the palace and expound your teaching. He didn’t say he wanted your head!

Huineng:

Excellent! Excellent! His Majesty also wishes to be a merciful Buddha.

Xue Jian:

His Majesty’s benevolence is spread far and wide. He has funded the renovation of temples all over the country and donated money to provide for Buddhist monks. His merits embrace the whole of China. Don’t be rude! Don’t be indiscreet!

Huineng:

These are not merits.

Xue Jian:

Then where can merits be found?

Huineng:

Building temples, almsgiving, and patronage are merely meritorious work. But true merits reside in the Dharma body, not in the field of merits itself. Realizing our nature is known as
gong
; equality and righteousness are known as de. Together they make up
gongde
, which means merits. In our heart, we should see Buddha nature; in our behavior, we should be respectful. In all our thoughts we should espouse equality and righteousness, then the merits will be full and abundant.

Xue Jian:

I don’t understand the Grand Master’s words. Would you mind if I recited them word for word to His Majesty?

Huineng:

Thus I have spoken. I have no other teachings to expound to His Majesty. When self-nature is deluded, Buddha is all sentient beings; when self-nature is enlightened, all sentient beings are Buddha. Compassion is Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy; equality and uprightness are
Maitreya
, the future Buddha. Abandon any thoughts of the good and the evil, and nature will then enter into the body of the heart, which will become peaceful and be in a state of perfect rest. Please beg forgiveness from the Empress Dowager and His Majesty on my behalf, for Huineng has to stay in the mountains to recuperate from his illness and to take care of the temple. Extend my thanks to His Majesty for his benevolence. (
Clasps his palms
.)