Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings (63 page)

A monk asked, “What about when the golden manacles are not open?”

Touzi said, “They are open.”

A monk asked, “All buddhas and dharmas come forth from this sutra. What is this sutra?”

Touzi said, “It is due to this name that you esteem and sustain.”

A monk asked, “Does the dragon bellow from within the withered tree?”

Touzi said, “I say that inside the skull the lion roars.”

A monk asked, “One Dharma universally freshens all beings. What Dharma is this?”

Touzi said, “The falling rain.”

A monk asked, “All sounds are the sound of Buddha, are they not?”

Touzi said, “Yes.”

The monk said, “Does the master not make farting sounds on the commode?”

Touzi struck the monk.

A monk asked, “Refined and vulgar speech both have the same meaning, right?”

Touzi said, “Yes.”

The monk said, “In that case may I call the master an ass?”

Touzi struck the monk.

A monk asked, “What is the final word?”

Touzi said, “The word you didn’t understand at the beginning.”

A monk asked, “Who is the master’s teacher?”

Touzi said, “If you look from in front of him you can’t see his head. If you look from behind him you can’t see his back.”

A monk asked, “Manjushri had seven buddhas as disciples. Did Manjushri have a teacher?”

Touzi said, “When you speak in this manner, it’s as if you’re belittling yourself and praising others.”

A monk asked, “The lion is the king of beasts. Why is it devoured by the six senses?”
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Touzi said, “Don’t build yourself up. Don’t believe in self and other.”

Zen master Touzi Datong resided on Mt. Touzi for more than thirty years, provoking and advancing Dharma in all directions. Those who came for his instruction often overflowed the hall. The master spoke in an unimposing manner, answering all questions, aiding each person’s development, and expressing great meaning with few words. What is recorded now is but a small portion of what the master said.

The Huang Chao bandit uprising broke out during the Zhong He era [around the year 883]. At that time every place experienced disaster and chaos.

Once, a crazed bandit brandished a knife at the master and said, “What are you doing living here?”

Touzi calmly continued to espouse Dharma. When Touzi finished speaking the bandit bowed and took off his own clothes to leave as an offering.

On the sixth day of the fourth month in [the year 914] the master became slightly ill. The monks called for a doctor.

Touzi said to the congregation, “The four great activities of life ebb and flow unceasingly. You mustn’t be concerned. I can take care of myself.” After saying these words the master sat in a cross-legged position and passed away. He received the posthumous name “Great Teacher Compassionate Succor.”

DESHAN XUANJIAN

DESHAN XUANJIAN (819–914) was a disciple of Longtan Chongxin. He came from ancient Jian Province (in the north of modern Sichuan Province). As a youth he thoroughly studied the rules of the Vinaya and was an authority on the Diamond Sutra. He thus earned the nickname “Diamond Zhou.”