Chunzi Decheng [W-G: Ch’uan-tzu Te-ch’eng / J: Sensu Tokujo]

                Chunzi Decheng, Daowu Yuanjie, and Yunyan Tansheng all received Dharma transmission from Yaoshan Weiyan. Chunzi said to the other two: “I know that both of you will eventually go your separate ways and continue our master’s Dharma.  That isn’t my path; I lack that discipline.  I enjoy nature and will follow my own way.  I’m not fit to be the teacher of a great assembly.  Still, if an appropriate student comes to you, please send him to me so that I may repay our teacher by passing on what little I’ve learned.”

                He then became a ferryman and was popularly known to the people he helped cross the river as the “Boatman monk.” 

[Chunzi Decheng – Zen Masters of China: 119-20, 121]

Jianyuan Zhongxing [W-G: Chien-yuan Chung-hsing]

                 Daowu Yuanjie and his disciple, Jianyuan Zhongxing, went to visit a family who were mourning the death of one its members.  The coffin was still at the house, and Jianyuan took the opportunity to ask his master a question.  Laying his hand on the coffin he asked, “Is he alive or dead?”

                “I won’t say alive,” Daowu told him.  “I won’t say dead.”

                “Why not?”

                “I won’t say.”

                After the visit, as they were returning to the monastery, Jianyuan was very disturbed and demanded, “Tell me, alive or dead.  If not, I’ll strike you down!”

                “Strike me or not, I still won’t tell you.”

                Jianyuan was unable to restrain himself, and he struck his master.  Daowu did not strike back, but it was such a breach of etiquette that he told his student, “If others learn what you’ve done, it may cause you trouble.  So it would better if you leave our monastery for a while.”

                Jianyuan wandered from place to place until he learned that his former master had died.  Then he returned to the monastery where Shishuang Chuyuan was now teaching.  Jianyuan explained why he had been absent from the monastery for so long and told the new master about the question to which Daowu had merely said: “I won’t say alive; I won’t say dead.”

                “Can you answer my question?” he asked Shishuang.

                “I won’t say alive; I won’t say dead,” Shishuang replied.

                “But why not?” Jianyuan asked.

                “I won’t say.”

                And with those words, Jianyuan finally came to awakening.

[Jianyuan Zhongxing – Zen Masters of China: 120-22]

Daowu Yuanjie [W-G: Tao-wu Yuan-chieh / J: Dogo Enchi]

                 Yunyan Tansheng and Daowu Yuanjie were admiring a statue of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Guanyin.  As was common, the statue portrayed the Bodhisattva with multiple arms and eyes.

                Tangshen asked, “Why do you suppose the Bodhisattva has so many hands and eyes?”

                “It’s like someone in their sleep groping for a pillow,” Daowu replied.

                “Ah!  I understand.”

                “Tell me what you understand.”

                “The whole body is covered with hands and eyes.”

                “That isn’t bad,” Daowu said, but his tone suggested that Tansheng still did not fully understand.

                “How would you put it?”  Tansheng asked.

                “The whole body is hands and eyes.”

[Daowu Yuanjie –  Zen Masters of China: 116-19]

Yunyan Tansheng [W-G: Yun-yen T’an-sheng / J: Ungan Donsho]

                Yunyan Tansheng once told this parable:  “Three travelers noticed a man standing on a small hill looking out over the landscape.  The first traveler said, ‘Look at that man.  I suppose he’s searching the country round for an animal that has wandered from his herd.’ 

                “‘Not at all,’ the second said, ‘he’s simply watching out for a friend who’s coming to visit him.’

                “‘Nonsense,’ said the third.  ‘He’s just enjoying the refreshing breeze.’

                “The travelers argued among themselves but weren’t able to come to agreement about why the man was standing there.  When they came nearer to him, the first traveler called out to the man, ‘Are you looking for a goat or sheep which has wandered from your flock?’

                “‘I don’t have any flocks,’ the man replied.

                “‘Then are you waiting for a friend?’ the second asked.

                “‘No.  I’m not waiting for a friend.’

                “‘Ah,’ said the third.  ‘It must be as I expected that you’re just enjoying the refreshing breeze.’

                “‘Not particularly,’ the man said.

                “‘Then what are you doing?’ the three travelers demanded.

                “‘I’m just standing here.’”

[Yunyan Tansheng – Zen Masters of China : 116-18, 129; The Story of Zen: 154]