Xinghua’s successor, Nanyuan
Huiyong, was known for the strictness of his manner and the frequency with
which he used staff. On one occasion Nanyuan asked a newly arrived monk his
reason for coming to the monastery.
“I’ve come to pay my respects to
Master Nanyuan” the monk said.
“He isn’t here.”
The monk shouted, “Ho!”
“I said Nanyuan isn’t here. What’s
the use in shouting?”
The monk shouted again, and Nanyuan
struck him. The monk bowed.
“Actually,” Nanyuan remarked,
“it was you who struck me. I merely struck back.”
[Nanyuan
Huiyong – Zen Masters of China:
246-47]
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