Huangbo Xiyun [W-G: Huang-po Hsi-yun / J: Obaku Ki-un]

               Huangbo Xiyun once declared to his disciples, “Throughout all of China there are no teachers of Zen.”   

                One of his monks objected, “How can you say that?  Aren’t we all here students of Zen?”           

                “I didn’t say there was no Zen,” Huangbo told him, “I only pointed out that there were no teachers of Zen.”

[Huangbo Xiyun – Zen Masters of China: 181, 192-95, 218; The Story of Zen: 148-49]

Zui Jiao [W-G: T’ieh-tsui Chiao / J:Tesshikaku]

              Zui Jiao, who had been a student of Zhaozhou, visited Fayan Wenyi. Fayan remarked to his guest, “I understand that your master spoke of a cypress tree. Is that so?”

              “He spoke of no cypress tree,” Zui Jiao replied.

              “This is well known! How can you say he spoke of no cypress tree?”

              “My teacher never spoke of such a thing! Please do not insult his memory!”

              “Ah!” Fayan said in admiration. “You are indeed a lion’s child!”

[Zui Jiao – Zen Masters of China: 188]

Zhaozhou Congshen [W-G: Chao-chou Ts’ung-shen / J: Joshu Jushin]

                 When a monk asked Zhaozhou, “Why did Bodhidharma come from the west?” Zhaozhou said, “The cypress tree in the garden.” 

                “Don’t talk to me of things of the external world,” the monk complained. 
                “I didn’t,” Zhaozhou told him.

                “Then tell me, why did Bodhidharma come east?”

                “The cypress tree in the garden.”

[Zhaozhou Congshen – Zen Masters of China: 178-88; The Story of Zen: 160]

Baizhang Huaihai [W-G: Pai-chang Huai-hai / J: Hyakujo Ekai]

                Baizhang Huaihai provided in his own activity an example of the life he expected his disciples to lead.  Well into his eighties, he continued to work in the fields every day.  As he became more frail with age, however, some of his disciples decided he should refrain from such exertion and they hid his gardening tools.  When Baizhang could not find his tools, he went back to his room and, at meal time, remained there.  He did not eat that day or the next.  The disciples discussed this and wondered if he were angered by the missing tools, so they put them back in their usual place.  Baizhang returned to his work in the fields and resumed his meals as well.  He told his disciples, “A day of no work is a day of no food.”

[Baizhang Huaihai – Zen Masters of China: 169-74; The Story of Zen: 143, 147-48, 293]