Nanyuan Huiyong [W-G: Nan-yuan Hui-yung / J: Nanin Egyo]

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.”

Zen Masters of China: 246-47

Xinghua Cunjiang [W-G: Hsing-hua Ts’ung-Chiang / J: Koke Zonsho]

Linji Yixuan used to respond to questions about Zen with a brisk shout: “Ho!” Several of his heirs continued his teaching, and gradually the Rinzai (Linji) school of Zen evolved. The most important line of descent was that of Xinghua Cunjiang who warned his followers of the danger of merely aping the mannerisms of his late master. “All day long I hear monks shouting ‘Ho!’ in the corridors and in the halls. But you must beware of shouting for its own sake. Even if you were to shout so loudly that it took my breath away, when my breath returned I’d tell you, ‘Still not it!’ I haven’t been passing out gift-wrapped gems to you. What’s all this shouting about?”

Zen Masters of China: 246

The Story of Zen:153

Sansheng Huiran [W-G: San-sheng Hui-jan / J: Sansho Enen]

Sansheng Huiran attended one Xuefeng Yicun’s Dharma talks. The teacher said, “Without exception all have an ancient mirror.”

Sansheng stood to object: “From time beyond memory, it’s been nameless. Why do you call it an ancient mirror?”

“Because of defective existence.”

“I don’t know how you came up with this stuff.”

“My apologies. I’ve so many duties I have to attend to as abbot,” Xuefeng said.

Zen Masters of China: 245