Pangyun or “Layman Pang” [W-G: P’ang Yun / J: Hokoji]

                Pangyun was first a student of Mazu and then later of Shitou. He never became a monk, was married, and had a daughter. He became known as Layman Pang.

                One day Shitou came upon him as he was at work on the temple grounds. The master asked him how he had been filling his time. Pang replied in verse: "Nothing to choose, nothing to discard. / I exercise occult and subtle power. / How miraculous! How wondrous! / Hauling water and carrying wood!"

[Pangyun – Zen Masters of China: 90, 100-02]

Shitou Xiqian [W-G: Shih-t’ou Hsi-chien / J: Sekito Kisen]

    
      Shitou Xiqian was the heir of Qingyuan Xingshi. One day an inquirer asked him, “What am I supposed to do?”

                “Why are you asking me?” Shitou replied.

                “Where else can I find what I’m looking for?”

                “Are you sure you lost it?”

[Shitou Xiqian – Zen Masters of China: 94-99; The Story of Zen: 153-54]

Mazu Daoyi [W-G: Ma-tsu-Tao / J: Baso Doitsu]

                As Mazu Daoyi and Baizhang Huaihai were walking together, a flock of geese flew overhead.

                “What are they?” asked Mazu.

                “Wild geese,” Baizhang told him.

                “Where are they going?”

                “They’ve already flown away.”

                Mazu grabbed Baizhang’s nose and twisted it sharply.

                “How could they ever have flown away?” he demanded.

                At that moment, Baizhang’s mind was opened.

[Mazu Daoyi – Zen Masters of China: 84-91, 103, 146, 148, 169, 170; The Story of Zen: 145-47]

Nanyue Huairang [W-G: Nan-yueh Huai-jang / J: Nangaku Ejo]

               Nanyue Huairang had been a student of Huineng and, in turn, became the teacher of Mazu Daoyi. One day he came upon Mazu seated in meditation. Huairang asked him, “What is it that you’re trying to accomplish by sitting like this?”

                Mazu replied, “I want to attain Buddhahood.” 

                Huairang nodded his head, then, without a word, picked up a piece of broken tile which was lying on the ground and began to rub it vigorously.  He kept this up so long that Mazu eventually inquired, “Master, if I may ask, what are you doing?”

                “I’m polishing this tile to make it into a mirror.”

                “But no amount of polishing will turn a tile into a mirror!”

                 “Neither will any amount of meditation, as you practice it, make you into a Buddha.” 

                “What should I do then?” Mazu asked.

                “If you were driving a cart and it stopped, what would you do?  Would you strike the cart or the ox?”

[Nanyue Huairang – Zen Masters of China: 79, 84; The Story of Zen: 144-45]