[Long] Linji | 1

 

Linji is here referred to as “the Master,” though he was still a student.

 

When the Master was first in Huang-po's group, he went about his activities in an earnest and straightforward manner. The head monk expressed admiration, saying, "Though he's still young, he’s different from the others!" Then he asked, "How long have you been here?"

"Three years," said the Master.

The head monk said, "Have you been in to question the teacher yet?"

The Master said, "No, I haven't been in to ask questions. I don't know what to ask."

The head monk said, "Why don't you go ask the Reverend who heads this temple, 'What is the real basic meaning of the Buddha-dharma?' "

The Master went and asked, but before he had finished speaking, Huang-po struck him a blow.

When the Master returned from the interview, the head monk said, "How did the question go?"

The Master said, "Before I had even finished asking the question, the Reverend struck me. I don't understand."

The head monk said, "Just go ask him again."

The Master went and asked again, and again Huang-po hit him. In this way he went three times to ask his question and three times was struck.

The Master came to report to the head monk. "Thanks to your kind instruction, I've been able to question the Reverend. Three times I questioned him and three times he struck me. To my regret. I'm impeded by bad karma and can't grasp the profound meaning in all this. Now I'll be going on my way. "

The head monk said, "If you're going, be sure ro take leave of the Reverend. "

The Master bowed low and withdrew.

The head monk went to see Huang-po before the Master could do so and said, "That young monk who came to question you has a lot of good sense. I hope you'll help him along. Later I'm sure he'll shape up into a fine big tree that will make cool shade for the people of the world."

When the Master came to take his leave. Huang-po said. "You mustn't think of going anywhere else - just go to Ta-yü's place by the river rapids in Kao-an. He will surely explain things for you."

 

When the Master arrived at Ta-yü's place, Ta-yü asked, "Where have you come from?"

The Master said, "I've come from Huang-po's place."

Ta-yü said, "Did Huang-po have any words or phrases to teach you?"

The Master said, "I asked him three times what is the real basic meaning of the Buddha-dharma, and three times I was struck. I don't know whether I did something wrong or not."

Ta-yu said, "Huang-po is such a kind old grandmother, wearing himself out on your account, and then you come here and ask whether you did something wrong or not!"

At these words, the Master experienced a great enlightenment. He said, "There really wasn't anything so hard about Huang-po's Buddha-dharma after all!"

Ta-yü seized hold of him and said, "This little bed-wetting devil! A minute ago asking if you did something wrong, and now you say there's nothing so hard about Huang-po's Buddha-dharma! What kind of truth do you think you've spied? Out with it! Out with it!"

The Master punched Ta-yü three times in the ribs with his fist.

Ta-yü let go of him and said, "Your teacher is Huang-Po. You're no business of mine!"

 

The Master took leave of Ta-yü and returned to Huang-po. When Huang-po saw him coming, he said, "This fellow coming and going, coming and going - when will he ever have done with it?"

The Master saId, "And it's all because of your grandmotherly kindness!" Then, when he had fInished the customary greetings, he went and stood in attendance by Huang-po.

Huang-po said, "Where have you been?"

The Master said, "Following your kind instructions the other day, I went to visit Ta-yü.”

Huang-po said, "Did Ta-yü have any words or phrases for you?"

The Master then related the conversation that had taken place between Ta-yü and himself.

Huang-po said, "If only I could get my hands on that fellow right now - I'd give him a real wallop!"

The Master said, "What's that you say you'll do? You can taste this right now!" With that he gave Huang-po a slap.

Huang-po said, "This raving idiot, coming back here and pulling the tiger's whiskers!"

The Master gave a shout.

Huang-po said, "Attendant, drag this raving idiot out of here and take him to the monks' hall!"

 

Later Wei-shan related this incident and asked Yang-shan, "All that time, was Lin-chi indebted to Ta-yü, or was he indebted to Huang-po?"

Yang-shan said, "He not only rode on the tiger's head, but he got to tweak the tiger's tail as well."

 

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Submitted November 05, 2019 at 01:49PM by UhExist https://ift.tt/2pxPGX1