Tanxia Tianran [W-G: Tan-hsia T’ien-jan / J: Tanka Tennen]

                  One winter’s night, Tanxia Tianran took shelter at an empty temple in the capital.  The weather was very bitter, and Tianran struggled to keep warm.  Eventually he took down one of the three wooden Buddhas he found on an altar and broke it into pieces which he used to make a fire.  Noticing smoke coming from the temple, the resident priest came in to see what was causing it and found Tianran contentedly warming his hands before the burning Buddha. 
                “What have you done!” the priest exclaimed in outrage. “This is sacrilege!  Have you no respect for the Holy Buddha?”  
                Without answering the priest, Tianran began to poke about in the embers with a stick. 
                “And now what are you doing?” the priest demanded. 
                “I’m searching the ashes for the relics, the Buddha’s bones.” 
                “You’re a madman!” the priest exclaimed.  “What bones or relics would you find from a wooden Buddha!”

                “In that case,” Tianran said, “could I have another of those Buddhas there for my fire?”

[Tanxia Tianran – Zen Masters of China: 103-05]

Lungtan Chongzin [W-G: Lung-t’an Ch’ung-hsin / J: Ryutan Soshin]

                 At the first meeting between Lungtan Chongzin and his future heir, Deshan Xuanjian, Deshan immediately took the offensive: “I’ve heard people speak about the famous dragon pool [lungtan], but I see neither dragon nor pool.”

                Chongzen replied, “You are in the midst of Lungtan.”

[Lungtan Chongzin – Zen Masters of China: 230-31]

Tianhuang Daowu [W-G: T’ien-huang Tao-wu / J: Tenno Dogo]

    

            Tianhuang Daowu was the Dharma heir of Shitou Xiqian. When he became a teacher, his personal attendant was Lungtan Chongzin. After Lungtan had been in that position for several years, he approached his master and complained, “Since I came here, I haven’t had any instruction in the study of mind.” 

                “That isn’t so,” Tienhuang said. “Since the day you first arrived, I haven’t missed an opportunity to show you how to study mind.” 

                “In what way, sir?”

                “When you brought me a cup of tea, didn’t I drink it? When you bowed to me, didn’t I  return the bow? When did I ever neglect instructing you?” 

                Lungtan sat for a moment with his head down. “If you want to see it,” Tianhuang snapped, “see it directly! When you just think about it, it’s altogether lost!”

                Lungtan came to awakening and asked, in marvel, “How does one maintain it?”

                “Live in accordance with conditions as they arise moment to moment,” Tianhuang instructed him. “Surrender to everyday mind. There’s nothing sacred except this.”

[Tianhuang Daowu – Zen Master’s of China: 102]

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]