Besides, after Elder Hua Qing finished testing the understanding of all the disciples, when he returned to the abbot's room, a strong wind came in from the window and blew the "Lengga Abhadra Sutra" on the desk to the ground.
The elder bent down, picked up the scriptures, and flipped through them. Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind, and he saw him clapping his hands together and shouting repeatedly: "Good idea, good idea!" So Elder Hua Qing decided to have a final test among all the disciples, using everything in the Lankavatara Sutra. The scriptures that all dharmas are "seen by one's own mind" and "all things are created by the mind" are expressed in a "Drawing of the order of the Lankavatara lineage" and the drawing was painted on the wall of the south corridor as an examination paper. See who can understand the wisdom of Buddhism most thoroughly, and then select and finalize the successor.
…
In the south corridor of Tozenji Temple, the walls have been repainted.
The setting sun stretched out the three figures in the south corridor. Under the setting sun, the snow-white walls were painted with a layer of golden yellow.
At this time, Elder Hua Qing was seen walking in the south corridor with two lay people.
The shorter and fatter one is called Ding Zhangyuan, and people call him "Ding Zongfeng".
This is a title for those who serve around the emperor. In the early Tang Dynasty, there were names such as "Servant of the Censor" and "Servant of the Censor in the Palace".
During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, there was a Hanlin enshrinement system, which was specifically designed to be used in the palace. And this "Ding Zongfeng" was the most famous painter in the dynasty, especially good at painting figures and Buddhist scriptures in disguise.
The civil and military ministers, princes and nobles in the imperial court were all proud to have his collection of paintings and calligraphy.
The other was a tall man, wearing an official uniform, with a unique dignity, but also an elegant demeanor.
This man's name is Wang Wenhao, and he is from Jiangzhou. Don't be afraid that this official is not big when you say he is big, and he is not small when you say he is small. He is a deputy to the governor.
Elder Hua Qing: "It's rare to have two adults here today. I have something to ask of you."
Wang Biejia said: "What do you want to ask of us common people and mediocre people like you, elder?"
Ding Gongfeng said humbly: "Yes, what virtues and abilities do we have? Elder Lao thinks so highly of us?"
Elder Hua Qing pointed at Wang Biejia and Ding Chong: "You two, one is extremely talented and proficient in Buddhist wisdom; the other is a peerless painter who is famous in the Central Plains. This time I asked you to come here because I want to paint for me." A plan, all because I want to paint a scroll on the wall of the south corridor."
Wang Biejia suddenly realized: "Ah, it turns out that this is the case."
Ding Zongfeng said respectfully: "Since the elder asked us to come, we must do our best. I wonder what picture you want me to draw?"
Elder Hua Qing piously said: "There are many shocking stories of seeking wisdom from the Buddha in the Lankavatara Sutra. Please draw them for me."
The Lankavatara Sutra, whose full name is the Lankavatara Abhadra Jewel Sutra, refers to the sutra spoken by the Buddha in Sri Lanka. It is believed that all dharmas are "seen by one's own mind" and that all things are created by the mind. It has a great influence on Zen Buddhism and is one of the "Six Classics" that the Faxiang Sect of Chinese Buddhism relies on.
After Wang Biejia thought about it and understood Elder Huaqing's intention, he said: "In summary, it should be called 'Lengjia Sect's Lineage Sequence Chart'."
Elder Huaqing nodded and said, "Yes, it is the 'Langjia Sect's Lineage Sequence Chart'."
"Ah, what you want to draw is the lineage sequence diagram of the Langjia sect?" Ding Zongfeng nodded and praised, "This is good. There are ancients before, and there are those who come after, and it is passed down from generation to generation. Okay, okay!"
Wang Biejia stepped forward: "Elder, I have a suggestion."
Elder Hua Qing: "What proposal?"
Wang Biejia pointed at the white wall and said, "The wall of the south corridor is more than ten feet long. It seems too wasteful to paint a picture of Lankavatara in disguise. I think we can paint another long scroll."
Elder Hua Qing asked: "In your opinion, what kind of scroll are you painting?"
Wang Biejia: "I made a preliminary idea. I can draw a scroll of Huaqing elders..."
Elder Hua Qing waved his hands repeatedly before he finished speaking: "No, no."
Wang Biejia: "Why not?"
Elder Hua Qing said sternly: "There are so many eminent scholars in the Zen forest. Although I was passed down as an elder by the Fifth Patriarch, if I drew these long scrolls in the Dongchan Temple where I am the abbot, for self-promotion and self-bragging, wouldn't it make people angry? Is the world laughing at you?"
Wang Biejia laughed: "The elder has always had a very high level of understanding, unmatched by anyone, but this time he was confused."
Elder Hua Qing blinked: "Am I confused?"
Wang Biejia: "You are too anxious. You misunderstood me this time."
Elder Hua Qing was puzzled: "Did I misunderstand what you meant?"
"Yes." Wang Biejia explained, "What I want to draw is the 'bloodline diagram of Elder Huaqing'. It is not just about you, the elder, nor your fathers."
Elder Hua Qing asked: "So, what do you want to draw?"
Wang Biejia explained: "It starts from the paintings of the first ancestor of Bodhidharma. Huike, Sengcan, Daoxin, until you, Elder Hua Qing, passed down the Buddhist lantern. There are so many thrilling stories, a bloodline diagram recorded in Zen Buddhism! "
Elder Hua Qing suddenly realized: "Ah, so this is what you are referring to."
Ding Chongfeng: "What should this be called?"
"The bloodline map of Elder Huaqing." Wang Biejia explained: "The ancestor Bodhidharma came from Tianzhu by boat. He crossed the river with a reed and faced the wall for nine years. It took many twists and turns to convince the world; the second ancestor Huike had his arm broken and was stained with blood. The red snow shocked the world and made the ghosts and gods weep; the third ancestor, Monk Can. Xiao Ran, sat quietly and hid in the mountains; the fourth ancestor, Daoxin, always sat day and night without lying down. For more than sixty years, he sat without lying down, never touched the mat, and taught the Dharma on the two peaks. ; Elder Huaqing, you became a monk with Taoism when you were seven years old. Over the past decades, you have gone through ups and downs and opened up the Dongshan Dharma. From the first ancestor to you, the elder, everyone has walked a bumpy road. Everyone has devoted themselves to hard training. , a model of hardening one’s will.”
Ding Zongfeng agreed: "Yes, it is not easy for your Zen sect to be passed down from generation to generation. Take these evocative and tearful stories as the genealogy of Zen sect's direct descendants, draw them into long scrolls and pictures, and leave them on the wall. They are easy to understand, so that they can be easily understood. It is indeed a good thing to commemorate the former and warn future generations!"
Elder Hua Qing thought for a while, nodded and said: "You two make sense, and your suggestions are also very good. Just do what you said. You two will discuss it and decide on a first draft. Then you will study it with me."
Wang Biejia and Ding Chongfeng said in unison: "Okay."
Elder Hua Qing asked: "How long do you estimate it will take to come up with the first draft?"
After Wang Biejia thought about it, he replied: "One month."
Ding Chongfeng echoed: "I think it's almost the same."
Elder Hua Qing: "Okay. I am waiting for your good news."
Elder Hua Qing sent Wang Biejia and Ding Zongfeng away. After returning to the abbot's room, he felt a little breathless and knew that he was old. He decided to call all the disciples that night to announce something big.
In the evening, the big bell of Dongzen Temple rang "dang dang", breaking the tranquility in the mountain.
Amidst the loud ringing of the bells, eight hundred monks hurried from their respective rooms to the main hall.
The long ringing of the bell indicates that something important is happening! The disciples asked each other with their eyes, but they didn't know the reason.
All the disciples filed into the main hall, and dozens of oil lamps were hung on the beams, illuminating the main hall.
In the middle of the high hall of the main hall, there sits a lifelike statue of Sakyamuni Buddha. He opens his eyes slightly, twists a golden lotus in his hand, and reveals a mysterious smile on his face.
