After Master Qingyuan”s passing, Xiqian traveled to the Southern Peak (Nanyue) in the Heng Mountain region of Hunan, and built a grass-thatched hut for himself on a stone ledge that was exposed on the side of a hill. Because of his hermitage on the rock, Xiqian soon became known as Shitou Heshang (Monk “Rocky-Top”).
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Having settled close to his spiritual uncle, Nanyue Huairang, the two were almost certain to have been in contact. One account (in the Ancestor's Hall Collection) records a conversation between Xiqian and Master Nanyue:
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Xiqian asked, “What do we do when teachers are no longer needed, but one's understanding hasn't been recognized?”
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Nanyue said, “That's a bit arrogant. How about asking something more humble?”
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Xiqian said, “Even being reborn endlessly, we can't reach liberation by following others.”
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Master Nanyue was silent. Xiqian departed.
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Later an attendant monk came and reported to Master Nanyue, “The monk who came to ask you questions recently - the one who was quite disrespectful - he's now practicing on a rock ledge to the east of here.”
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The master told the attendant, “Go over and tell him that a person of such strong intention would be welcome to practice here in our temple.”
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The attendant delivered the message, but Xiqian declined the offer.
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Nanyue said, “Nobody will ever get the better of this man.”
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Master Nanyue later helped to arrange the building of a small temple for Xiqian near the site of his hut. Xiqian soon began to attract students, and , known as Master Shitou, eventually became one of the most influential teachers in the Zen tradition.
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From your greatest friends and deepest loving of family, to your worst and most malicious of enemies and rivals, to the seemingly impartial you might meet on the street:
all of them will have some idea of what you should do and what you should be.
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Even if you had access to the most brilliant, beautiful and seemingly perfect ideas or advice given to you by others...
how would you ever completely fit inside such a box?
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Take care.
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Submitted December 18, 2018 at 05:07AM by Pikkko https://ift.tt/2GrSFaX
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