Heavy fog filled the air, huge waves emptied, the earth was shaking, and the Yangtze River rolled eastward.
"Ah, the other side is Jiujiang City." The elder pointed to the other side.
The lights of thousands of houses in Nan'an City were dim and twinkling.
The river breeze is refreshing and refreshing.
The elder pointed to the surging waves of the river and said with deep feeling: "The new leaves in the bamboo forest drive the old leaves, and the waves in the Yangtze River chase the waves in front!"
The moon shines brightly on the river, and the waves carry thousands of miles of light. In the desolate night, the teacher and his disciples walked quickly toward the bank of the Yangtze River.
The stars hang down over the vast plains, and the moon surges across the river. Under the hazy moonlight, the Yangtze River becomes more and more majestic, with surging undercurrents and rolling turbid waves, an unknown mystery and an unknown vastness.
The elder took Zhang Shaofei to the riverside. The ferry, which was lively and bustling during the day, was now deserted. The only thing that greeted them was the sound of the river tide crashing against the embankment.
"The sound of the waves whispers that the night is quiet, and there is no boat crossing the wild crossing" is a portrayal of this time.
Under the dark rocks there, they found an ownerless boat lying there.
The elder went to untie the ship's moorings, and Zhang Shaofei smiled inexplicably.
The elder did not raise his head and said, "Untie the cable, what's so funny about it?"
Zhang Shaofei said with a smile: "Untying the moorings, there is nothing funny in the first place. However, when the monk untied the moorings, people couldn't help but laugh. Because you are an eminent monk and a great master, but you actually stole other people's boats."
When the elder heard what Zhang Shaofei said, he couldn't help but laugh: "You are such a talkative. You have violated the precepts and should be beaten."
The tense atmosphere that originally enveloped the master and the disciples was relieved a lot by Zhang Shaofei's teasing.
Zhang Shaofei pulled the boat to the shore and asked Master to get on board.
The elder said meaningfully: "Boats are a convenience for ferrying people. After people cross the river, the pedestrians leave on their own, and the boat naturally stays on the riverside."
Zhang Shaofei bowed and said, "Thank you, Master, for your guidance."
The elder pretended to be confused: "What did I tell you?"
Zhang Shaofei said: "Master is telling me that the Dharma of Buddha's Wisdom is a boat for ferrying people. Before the transition, you can't be attached to the boat. After the transition, you can't be burdened by the boat and carry it ashore. Therefore, the Dharma of Buddha's Wisdom is to help people. We transcend the river of life and death and the ferry that reaches the other side of enlightenment. We must not be attached to it, we must not hold on to it, but we must know how to break away from it and abandon it in time.”
The elder nodded, took out the oar from the cabin, stood at the stern of the boat, and moved the oar a little closer to the river bank. The boat left the river bank and swayed leisurely into the river.
The elder was about to rock the oar, but Zhang Shaofei quickly stepped forward, pressed his hand on the wooden oar, and said: "Master, you have led me on a long mountain road, and I am tired. I'd better let my disciples do such heavy physical work." . Master, please rest for a while, disciple, come and row the boat."
The elder sat down with a smile. While paddling, Zhang Shaofei said with unfinished meaning: "It's the same salvation, but the function of a master's salvation of his disciples is different from that of a disciple's salvation of himself." Zhang Shaofei grew up in the uncivilized mountains of Qiu County. His accent is not correct and he can't even speak... … Thanks to the method of Buddha’s wisdom taught by Master, I have now awakened and realized my own nature, so I should save myself by myself.”
The elder smiled: "You were born in the mountains of Qiu County. You have been collecting firewood in the mountains and forests since you were a child. When you came to Dongchan Temple, you did work such as pounding rice and growing vegetables. And I was born by the Xunyang River."
Zhang Shaofei grinned and said: "So, if you and I meet in this life, it can be regarded as a meeting in the mountains and rivers?"
"Exactly, exactly. We are a perfect match," the elder patted the wooden oar and said, "I have been swimming in the river since I was a child. When it comes to water skills such as paddling and rocking the oar, you look at my back. It’s not as good as it is worth.”
Zhang Shaofei insisted: "Even if my kung fu is not as good as Master's, I should still be the one to paddle you across."
The elder also insisted: "Disciple Shaofei, as the master, I should be the one to ferry you to the other side. Is there any reason why you should be the one to ferry me?"
Zhang Shaofei whispered: "Master, you are wrong again this time."
The elder said while rocking the oar: "Eight months ago, when you arrived at Dongzen Temple, you told me that I was wrong when we met. Now, it seems that this is the last time we meet in our lives. Why do you say that again? Wrong?"
Zhang Shaofei said solemnly: "When I was astray, Master saved me; now, when I am enlightened, I have to save myself."
When Zhang Shaofei spoke the word "degree", his voice was particularly strong.
Elder: "Ah, are you saving yourself?"
Zhang Shaofei explained: "Although the name of 'degree' I am talking about is the same, the meaning it contains is different. I was born in the mountains of Qiu County and grew up in a remote and isolated mountainous area. When I speak, my pronunciation is not correct. Thank you Master taught me the method of mind. Now that I have become enlightened, I should not just rely on Master, but should save myself. You often teach us that life is a sea of suffering, and there are eight immeasurable sufferings. It is difficult for all living beings to save themselves. You have told us repeatedly, When the Buddha saves all sentient beings, all sentient beings save themselves!"
The elder laughed heartily and nodded frequently: "It's very true, it's very true. You can end your troubles by yourself, and you can live and die by yourself. Practicing Zen and cultivating the Tao is like eating and drinking. No one can replace each other. The so-called master can only point the way for others. Whether you can reach the other shore in the direction of travel can only be determined by each person." The elder saw Zhang Shaofei's Zen language and profound intentions. He knew that his practice had reached the highest level, and a rare smile appeared on his face. He nodded frequently and took the initiative to hand the wooden oar to Zhang Shaofei.
Zhang Shaofei had never rocked an oar, but he had seen the elder rocking an oar just now, and he immediately remembered it in his heart.
He is younger than the elder and has greater strength, so when he swings the oar, he is no worse than the elder.
The small boat carried the Zen elders and Huimen masters, facing the wind of the Lielie River. Cutting through the turbulent waves, it shot toward the south bank of the Yangtze River as if flying.
The twinkling lights of Jiujiang City on the other side are getting closer and closer.
The elder praised: "Ah, your oar swings well too!"
Zhang Shaofei said bluntly: "I just learned the master's oar-shaking action in my heart!"
The elder laughed angrily and said: "I didn't expect that you, a mountain villager, would swing the oar and the boat would fly forward."
Zhang Shaofei made a pun: "After taking over the oar from you, I took on the important task of chopping the waves and making the boat move forward."
The elder was full of sincerity: "Indeed, in the future, the important responsibility of promoting the Buddha's wisdom and revitalizing the wisdom gate will be shouldered by you. Please be aware that there are many changes on the road to propagating the Buddha's wisdom, and the waves are fierce!"
Zhang Shaofei patted his chest: "Disciple understands the responsibility on his shoulders."
As the boat cut through the waves, the elder thought of something and teased: "In the past, Bodhidharma used a reed to cross the river. Tonight, it is the Zen elder and Huimen master who crosses the river."
Zhang Shaofei: "Master crossing the river?"
"I am the elder and you are the master. The boat is carrying us two. If this is not the Zen sect's elder and master Huimen's crossing the river, what is it?" After the elder said this, he laughed.
Zhang Shaofei had never seen the elder have such a bright smile.
Indeed, when you select a suitable sage to inherit the Buddha’s Wisdom Seal and Heart Lamp, you finally let go of the heavy stone in your heart. How can you not make the elders laugh openly?
The boat is leisurely, the fishing fire is a little bright, the river is going eastward, the moonlit night is fading. The rolling waves are like clouds, and the clear moon is like a boat. Zhang Shaofei quickly rocked the oar, and the small boat shot like an arrow towards the other side - Jiangzhou...
While the master and apprentice were talking, the boat had reached the other shore.
Before landing, Zhang Shaofei knelt down on the boat and thanked the elder again and again.
The elder urged: "Come ashore quickly. It's all up to you to promote Hui Men and even Zen Buddhism in the future. You have to take it seriously and keep going south. Don't rush out to preach the Dharma. Firstly, you still need to practice hard after you become enlightened. Secondly, If someone is not convinced by passing on your mantle and is not willing to accept you as a master, they will definitely find ways to harm you."
Zhang Shaofei kowtowed and said, "Disciple, please follow Master's teachings."
The elder is like a kind mother giving advice to her children who are about to travel far, for fear of missing something.
He thought for a while and then ordered: "There is another important thing that you must keep in mind. We who practice Buddhism and Zen should stay away from bustling cities and live in deep mountains as much as possible; this is like using the materials used to build a building. The pillars of our country all come from deep mountains and deep valleys. Because there, far away from the crowd, the trees will not be hurt by axes and can grow up smoothly, and in the future they may become the pillars and pillars of the sky. Similarly, when we practice Zen People should live in the valley of the gods, stay away from the hustle and bustle, cultivate their nature in the mountains, and say goodbye to worldly things. At present, there is nothing, and the mind is at peace. From then on, the flowers of Taoism trees bloom, and the fruits of wisdom trees appear."
Zhang Shaofei nodded seriously.
The elder said: "You should go ashore now."
Zhang Shaofei jumped onto the shore, turned around, and wanted to say something, but he had so many words to say that he didn't know where to start. The elder was also relatively speechless, waving his hand and urging Zhang Shaofei to leave quickly.
There is a clear understanding in the heart, and everything can be said without words.
Zhang Shaofei slowly knelt down on the shore.
The elder's eyes were filled with tears. As if he had lost the most precious thing, and feeling empty in his heart, he staggered around and paddled away with difficulty.
Zhang Shaofei looked at his master's old back, his vision blurred by tears. A wordless song seemed to gradually resound in his heart, like an elf transformed from heaven and earth, echoing over the river...
After the two separated, Zhang Shaofei stood by the river, facing the river wind, looking at the ferry boat the elder was riding returning to the other side, his figure was submerged in the thick night.
Zhang Shaofei then let go of his feet, strode towards the south, and ran away.
The road ahead of this twenty-year-old Grandmaster Huimen is full of thorns and wind and rain...
