Just as the Sixth Patriarch Hui was spreading Dharma in Baolin Temple and his disciples were making great achievements, bad news suddenly came one after another. Senior brothers Shenxiu and Yingyin passed away, and disasters that had never happened in a century frequently hit the Central Plains...
In the abbot of Baolin Temple, the Sixth Patriarch Huineng was leaning against the quilt on the bed, listening to Fa Hai, who had just returned from Lechang area, talk about the disaster relief situation.
Fahai reported to the Sixth Patriarch Huineng:
All the 300,000 taels of treasury allocated by the imperial court to build the temple have been purchased for food, and all the food and clothing donated by the monks of various temples have been transported to the disaster area. Since the heavy rain, the drought has been lifted and people in the disaster area are rushing to plant crops. This natural disaster was finally overcome.
The Sixth Patriarch suddenly shuddered, was stunned for a while, and shed two lines of pure tears.
Fahai said: "Master, are you still feeling sorry for Uncle Yingyin? It's so sad, Master! Since you got seriously ill, your health is not as good as before, so you should be sad!"
The Sixth Patriarch said: "I am crying for your uncle Shenxiu. Your uncle Shenxiu has passed away in the capital."
Fahai was stunned: "Master, when did you receive the bad news?"
"Just now. I was in a trance just now, and I have already sensed it. Between heaven and earth, all living beings are moving, you come and I go, birth and death are impermanent! Fa Hai, go and summon Fa Da and the others to the Mahavira Hall."
In the main hall, the ten disciples Fahai, Fada, Zhicheng, Zhiche, Zhidao, Zhishang, Zhitong, Fazhen, Faru and Shenhui are arranged in two rows. The Sixth Patriarch stands in the middle of the ten disciples who stand with their hands folded. Passed through and sat on the throne.
The Sixth Patriarch looked at the disciples one by one and said slowly: "Just now, we worshiped Master Shenxiu from a distance. I know that the various schools of Northern Chan think that I am a deviant and heresy. There are also many of you who look down on your Master Shenxiu's Northern Chan. .As the teacher of the Three Emperors, your uncle Shenxiu has a sect in both capitals. How can you say that your reputation is in vain? It’s just that his theory of gradual enlightenment and my teaching of sudden enlightenment have different emphasis. The most valuable thing is that your uncle Shenxiu is a human being. He is humble, open-minded, and has high moral standards. He is a role model for monks like us!"
The Sixth Patriarch took a breath and continued: "You, the ten disciples, are different from other disciples. From now on, like Xingsi and Huairang, you must each abbot the monastery and spread the word. I want you to remember that learning Buddhism and cultivating A Zen person should eliminate all good and evil thoughts. Only the innate self-nature is the unique essence. Buddhist disciples should preach sutras and dharma on the basis of the true self-nature, and then establish all sects. What I’m talking about needs to be understood and understood by yourselves.”
Fahai replied on behalf of his fellow disciples: "Master, please rest assured, we will definitely abide by it in the future." The Sixth Patriarch nodded.
Fada took half a step forward, as if something had happened, and found that the Sixth Patriarch was meditating with his eyes closed, so he quietly stepped back.
The Sixth Patriarch closed his eyes and said, "Fada, what can I do for you?"
Fada said: "My disciples heard someone accuse our Zen sect of 'not establishing writing and teaching outsiders' as a heresy. How does Master explain this accusation?"
The Sixth Patriarch opened his eyes and said: "Not to establish text means not to stick to the classics, but it does not mean that we don't want the classics. Zen Buddhism pays attention to the direct penetration of the mind and the wisdom of prajna. In this sense, the prajna thought in the entire Mahayana classics is This is the basis for the establishment of the Zen sect. The reason why people accuse us is that some people are obsessed with the emptiness of Buddha nature, and even say that Buddha nature does not need words. Since there is no need for words, then these people do not need words, because language is also Words that can be heard. You know, the word 'Buli' is also a word, but it still doesn't leave the word!"
Fada listened and nodded in agreement.
The Sixth Patriarch went on to say, "Nothing can go to extremes, let alone be attached to the superficial phenomena of things. You must practice according to the Dharma I taught, and do not ignore all things, which hinders the clear mind and seeing the nature. If you just listen Listening to the Dharma or reciting Buddhist sutras without practicing according to the Dharma will only cause people to have more prejudices and evil thoughts. Therefore, you must practice according to the Dharma and not be attached to the superficial phenomena of things. If you understand If you follow these principles and apply them, you will not deviate from the purpose of this sect.”
…
The tree is a thousand feet tall, and its fallen leaves return to their roots.
The Sixth Patriarch Huineng attained enlightenment at Baolin Temple and witnessed the yellow leaves of the old Bodhi tree falling.
New branches were picked out, and the peach blossoms in the orchard on the side of Baolin Temple bloomed, withered, and bloomed again. In the blink of an eye, it was the autumn harvest season, and there were abundant fruits everywhere in Baolin Temple.
The Sixth Patriarch looked at the ripe fruits on the branches and smiled from the bottom of his heart.
Fa Hai and Li Kai (one of the disciples of the Sixth Patriarch in his later years) came over and stood behind him, clasping their hands and saluting: "Master."
The Sixth Patriarch turned around and shouted happily: "Fa Hai, Li Kai, have you returned from Xinzhou?"
"Yes, Master. The disciples have just returned to Baolin Temple."
"How did things go?"
Fahai replied: "Fortunately, I did not disgrace my order. The pagoda you ordered to be built at Guoen Temple was completed last month."
The Sixth Patriarch nodded: "Okay, okay. Fa Hai, Li Kai, you have been supervising the construction of the pagoda in Xinzhou this year. You have been able to complete it ahead of schedule. Thank you for your hard work."
Fa Hai and Li Kai said in unison: "This is what disciples should do."
The Sixth Patriarch picked two peaches, carefully wiped off the peach hairs, and handed them to Fa Hai and Li Kai. "Thank you, Master." The two of them started eating.
The Sixth Patriarch looked at them eating peaches, smiled happily, and asked, "Is it sweet?" Fahai said, "Sweet, very sweet. Master, try it."
The Sixth Patriarch smiled, shook his head, and said, "Fahai, tell me, what makes a person who works so hard to plant peach trees the happiest thing?"
Before Fahai could answer, the Sixth Patriarch had already passed away.
On June 29, the sun was as scorching as an arrow and the heat wave hit us. The cicadas on the bodhi tree in Baolin Temple screamed at their best in a chaotic manner, which made people upset.
The Sixth Patriarch Huineng was meditating on the futon in the Zen room as usual. Less than three seconds later, he suddenly felt that his blood was rushing upwards. He tried his best to hold his breath and tried to lower his blood pressure, but it was very difficult. His eyes were filled with white. Sparks burst out. The Sixth Patriarch Huineng was startled, knowing that his death was coming...
Dang, Dang, Dang... The big bell of Baolin Temple broke the silence of the mountains, and the monks hurriedly gathered towards the Main Hall. This day happened to be July 1st, the second year of Xuanzong’s reign (AD 713).
In the main hall, the Sixth Patriarch was sitting on his throne, and hundreds of monks were sitting in silence.
The Sixth Patriarch looked around and said, "I summoned all of you here today because I have something important to say."
The Sixth Patriarch paused for a moment before continuing: "Last July, I ordered Fahai and Likai to go to Xinzhou Guoen Temple to build a pagoda, and urged them to complete it before July this year. Many people didn't understand. I can now Let me tell you. That pagoda is the repayment pagoda I built to repay my parents' kindness, because the poor monk will pass away next month, which is August."
All the monks were startled and stunned, as if they had heard wrongly.
The Sixth Patriarch smiled and said, "Don't be surprised. While the poor monk is still alive for a month, if you have any questions about practice, please ask them quickly and I will answer them for you." The monks didn't bother to ask questions. , the shock was followed by great sadness, and everyone burst into tears.
