getting to the root

MASTER HSING YUN'S TALK

Getting to the Root:
Master Wen-shu Hsin-tao was a Ch'an practitioner. For many years, he had meditated on "The three worlds are nothing but a manifestation of the mind, and the ten thousand dharmas arise from consciousness." Not being able to attain any realization, Hsin-tao started to travel far and wide to consult other Ch'an masters. One day, he went to the temple of Ch'an Master T'ai-p'ing Fo-chien. Hsin-tao wanted to discuss the kung-an "The cypress in Chao-chou's Front Yard" with the Master in hope of receiving some instruction. Before reaching T'ai-p'ing, he ran into Master Chih-chueh T'ieh-tsui, who had already known Hsin-tao's intention. Chih-chueh said, "The late Master Chao-chou didn't tell such a story. You should not make such false accusations about the Master." Hsin-tao was puzzled by this statement. Eventually, he began to understand. One day, Hsin-tao went to the abbot's room to call on Master Fo-chien and discuss what he had learned. However, when the Master heard Hsin-tao's footsteps, he closed the door on him. From outside the door, Hsin-tao hollered, "Master! Don't lie to me. I know you're inside." Fo-chien answered from within, "There's no wall blocking any of the ten directions. Why don't you come in?"
After hearing this, Hsin-tao smashed through the paper covering the lattice window with his fist. Master Fo-chien abruptly flung open the door, grabbed Hsin-tao, and exclaimed, "Out with it! Out with it!" Hsin-tao spat on the Master's face and recited the following verse: Chao-chou had a story about a cypress; Ch'an Buddhists have passed it on from one another throughout the land. But most of them have just picked leaves or twigs, And failed to reach the roots. Chih-chueh said their version of the story was not what had been told by Chao-chou; This was a direct reproach to them.
If Ch'an practitioners are enlightened, They surely can distinguish between the true and the false. Fo-chien said approvingly, "Now you're awakened to the Truth!"

>You do not have the Buddha-Nature
> Form and Emptiness are the Same
< I-Hsiu Eating the Honey
> Night Roving
> Getting to the Root
> Before going up the Tree
> Only Partial Agreement

Both right and wrong and true and false exist in this world. "The Cypress in Chao-chou's Front Yard" is a kung-an which originated in a conversation between a monk and Chao-chou. The monk asked the Master, "What was the meaning of the Patriarch's coming from the West?" Chao-chou replied, "The cypress in the front yard." The implication underlying his reply was that the cypress turned green and red according to the different seasons. The Patriarch's purpose of coming from the West was to instill this state of no-mind. Master Hsin-tao found the root of the cypress and experienced the non discriminating mind under the guidance of Master Fo-chien. Hence he condemned all garrulous monks for their imperfect understanding.