Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings (90 page)

Xuefeng said to the congregation, “So majestic! So subtle!”

Jingqing came forward and said, “What is it that’s majestic and subtle?”

Xuefeng said, “What?”

Jingqing retreated and stood there.

Xuefeng said, “This matter is in this way esteemed, in this way subtle.”

Jingqing said, “In the years since I came here, I’ve never heard the master give instruction in this manner.”

Xuefeng said, “Although I have not done so, what is now revealed has never been lacking. Is there any difficulty?”

Jingqing said, “None at all! This is what the master has not taught, but what has always been present.”

Xuefeng said, “And it makes me speak thus.”

From this, Jingqing found an entrance, and moreover gained prominence in the congregation. At that time he was called “Little Patch-robed Fu.”

One day during the work session, Xuefeng said, “Zen master Guishan said, ‘Seeing form is seeing mind.’ Is there any error or not?”

Jingqing said, “What about the ancient teachers?”

Xuefeng said, “Although that’s true, I still want you all to discuss it.”

Jingqing said, “In that case, it can’t be compared to my hoeing the ground.”

Once, Jingqing went traveling and then returned to practice with Xuefeng.

Xuefeng asked him, “From where have you come?”

Jingqing said, “From beyond the mountains.”

Xuefeng said, “Where did you see Bodhidharma?”

Jingqing said, “Could he be anyplace else?”

Xuefeng said, “I don’t believe you!”

Jingqing said, “The master shouldn’t tarnish me so!”

Xuefeng was silent.

When Jingqing visited Caoshan Benji, Caoshan asked, “Where have you come from?”

Jingqing said, “Yesterday I left Clearwater.”

Caoshan said, “When did you arrive at Clearwater?”

Jingqing said, “I arrived when you arrived there, Master.”

Caoshan said, “When do you say I arrived?”

Jingqing said, “Just now when I arrived here I remembered.”

Caoshan said, “Just so. Just so.”

After leaving Xuefeng, Jingqing resided in Yuezhou [now the city of Zhaoxing in Zhejiang Province]. There, a large number of monks assembled to study with him.

A monk asked Jingqing, “I’m breaking out. I ask the master to break in.”
¹³⁵

Jingqing said, “Will you live or not?”

The monk said, “If not, then I’ll suffer others’ laughter.”

Jingqing said, “A fellow in the grass.”

A monk said to Zen master Jingqing Daofu, “This student has not yet arrived at the source. I ask for the master’s expedient guidance.”

Jingqing said, “What source is that?”

The monk said, “
The
source.”

Jingqing said, “If it’s
that
source, how could you get any expedient guidance?”

The monk bowed in thanks and went away.

Jingqing’s attendant said, “Just now did the master give that monk support or not?”

Jingqing said, “No.”

The attendant said, “Then you didn’t answer his question?”

Jingqing said, “No.”

The attendant said, “I don’t understand the master’s meaning.”

Jingqing said, “One drop is just black ink. Two drops and a dragon is created.”
¹³⁶

Zen master Jingqing Daofu entered the hall and addressed the monks, saying, “If you have not already realized the great matter that is before us today, then listen carefully to what I say and see if it hits the mark. If it hits the mark, then why does your understanding of it have some special quality? It is only because it has been a long time since you have left your homes, and you have traveled for many years. During this whole time you have merely experienced the conditions and dust of the world. This is called ‘turning your back on enlightenment and facing the dust,’ or ‘forsaking your father and running away.’

“Today I urge you all to not give up, nor turn away. Wouldn’t it be disappointing if you children of the great worthies did not exert yourself in this manner? Throughout the day, look everywhere for the ‘official road.’ But don’t come ask me to give you the ‘official road.’”

Jingqing entered the hall. When the monks had assembled, he threw down his staff and said, “If anyone moves he gets twenty strokes with the staff. If anyone doesn’t move he gets twenty strokes with the staff!”

A monk then came forward, picked up the staff, put it on his head and went out.

Jingqing said, “Today, I, Jingqing, am defeated.”

The following passages are taken from the
Transmission of the Lamp
.