Some time later, as he was crossing the Huang Lung mountain, he beheld (in the sky) purple clouds shaped like an umbrella. Guessing that there must be some extraordinary person (in the monastery there), he entered it. It happened at the same time that in the monastery, after beating the drum, (Ch’an master) Huang Lung was ascending to his seat (to expound the Dharma). Lu Tung Pin followed the monks and entered the hall to listen to the teaching.
Huang Lung said to the assembly: “Today there is here a plagiarist of my Dharma; the old monk (i.e. I) will not expound it.” Thereupon, Lu Tung Pin came forward and paid obeisance to the master, saying: “I wish to ask the Venerable Master the meaning of these lines:
A grain of corn contains the Universe:
The hills and rivers (fill) a small cooking-pot.”
Huang Lung scolded him and said: “What a corpse-guarding devil (you are).” Lu Tung Pin retorted: “But my gourd holds the immortality giving medicine.” Huang Lung said: “Even if you succeed in living 80,000 aeons, you will not escape from falling into the dead void.” Forgetting all about the (fortitude advocated in his own line:)
“When mindless of surroundings there’s no need for Chan.”
Lu Tung Pin burned with anger and threw his sword at Huang Lung. Huang Lung pointed his finger at the sword which fell to the ground and which the thrower could not get back. With deep remorse, Lu Tung Pin knelt upon his knees and inquired about the Buddha Dharma. Huang Lung asked: “Let aside (the line:) ‘The hills, and rivers (fill) a small cooking-pot’ about which I do not ask you anything. (Now) what is the meaning of: ‘A grain of corn contains the Universe’?” Upon hearing this (question), Lu Tung Pin instantaneously realized the profound (Ch’an) meaning. Then, he chanted the following repentance-poem:
I throw away my gourd and smash my lute.
In future I’ll not cherish gold in mercury.
Now that I have met (the master) Huang Lung,
I have realized my wrong use of the mind.
This is the story of an immortal’s return to and reliance on the Triple Gem and his entry into the monastery (Sangharama) as a guardian of the Dharma. Lu Tung Pin was also responsible for reviving the Taoist Sect at the time and was its Fifth (Tao) Patriarch in the North. The Taoist Tzu Yang also realized the mind after reading the (Buddhist) collection “Tsu Ying Chi” and became the Fifth (Tao) Patriarch in the South. Thus the Tao faith was revived thanks to the Ch’an Sect.
Confucius’ teaching was handed down until Mencius after whom it came to an end. In the Sung dynasty Confucian scholars (also) studied the Buddha Dharma, and among them, (we can cite) Chou Lien Ch’i who practiced the Ch’an training and succeeded in realizing his mind, and others such as Ch’eng Tzu, Chang Tzu and Chu Tzu (all famous Confucians). Therefore, the Ch’an Sect contributed (in no small measure) to the revival of Confucianism.
Nowadays, there are many people who despise the Ch’an Dharma and who even make slanderous remarks about it, thus deserving hell.Today, we have this excellent opportunity of being favored with a co-operating cause (which gathers us here). We should feel joy and should take the great vow to become objects of reverence for dragons and devas and to perpetuate the Right Dharma forever. This is no child’s play; so please make strenuous efforts to obtain more progress in your self-cultivation.
