Interesting stories shared by Master Tanxu
(44th Lineage Holder of the Tien-tai School and disciple of Master Dixian)
Dharma Master Dixian had two disciples. The more senior disciple, to tell the story briefly, was recommended by someone to take ordination with Master Dixian. He was already married with a wife and a young daughter. He did not discuss his decision to ordain with his family. Of course, his wife was against it, perhaps she would have changed her mind later, but it is hard to say now.
Anyway, he was firmly determined to leave home, Master Dixian therefore accepted him. This disciple loved Chan meditation. Where did he go to meditate? In China, the most famous Chan monastery is Jinshan Monastery in Zhenjiang. The monastery is built on a small island in the Yangtze River.
Since he made the decision to ordain himself, he was of course very sincere. He gave up his secular life, did not even discuss with his wife before leaving. His daughter was only a few years old and was entrusted to his brother’s family. His wife could not accept his decision and committed suicide by jumping into the river.
This monk did not care. He only wanted to leave home and cultivate. No matter who objected or made noise, he ignored it all. Master Dixian then sent him to Jinshan Chan hall to practice.
He cultivated very seriously for more than ten years. His practice gained him some fame. He accepted quite a few disciples and became the head monk. He had disciples and sponsors. Food, clothing, and lodging were not lacking. Greed then arose in his heart. With food, lodging, and respect from others, his heart became somewhat conceited.
He began to feel that his achievement in Chan was hard-earned. Pride took root in his heart. He did not know that from the moment he ordained, his wife’s spirit had been following him for more than ten years.
His wife did not agree to his ordination so she wanted to obstruct him. But he had truly gained some skill in Chan practice, so the Dharma protectors guarded him and the wife’s spirit could not obstruct him.
But once he gave rise to thoughts of greed and pride, his spiritual cultivation regressed. The Dharma protectors left. The wife’s spirit succeeded in possessing his body, making him jump into the river. Due to greed and delusion, he had no control over himself.
Jinshan Monastery is surrounded by water. On clear days, the mountain looks as if it is in the sky due to the reflection in the river. Possessed by the spirit, this monk jumped into the river. Someone saw him and rescued him. They asked him what happened. He said he was not aware of what happened.
After a few days, he jumped into the river again, and again someone rescued him.
The abbot of Jinshan Monastery said, “This is bad. The head monk is possessed by demons. He does not know how to swim. He could easily die by drowning! Quickly notify his teacher, Master Dixian, and ask him to bring his disciple back.”
At that time, Master Dixian was in Ningbo rebuilding a temple and sculpting Buddha statues. The temple had collapsed and was being rebuilt.
Jinshan Monastery sent a letter saying, “Your disciple has jumped into the river twice now but survived. When we ask him, he says he does not know what happened. He is in a confused state. Please take him away.”
Master Dixian thought: this is my disciple, it’s my responsibility to bring him back. So Master Dixian personally went to Jinshan Monastery. But the disciple would not leave.
I heard Master Dixian tell this story himself — these are all true events. Actually, the disciple was possessed by the spirit and confused. Normally he spoke well and acted normally, but when it came to jumping into the river, he remembered nothing about it.
Master Dixian said to this disciple, “Come on now, don’t cause trouble. Everyone here is a cultivator. You jump into the river every now and then (and disturb their practice). You should come back with me.”
The boat on their way back was flat-bottomed. There were two bunks inside, one below and one above. Master Dixian slept on the lower bunk while the disciple slept above. He behaved normally the whole way. The journey was peaceful and they returned by boat to Guanzong Monastery in Ningbo.
Since this disciple had lived at Jinshan for more than ten years and had the status of head monk, he had a room all to himself. He settled there to cultivate. Everything seemed fine.
One morning, he did not turn up for breakfast. Master Dixian remembered that this disciple often became confused so he told people to check his room. Sure enough, he was not inside and the back window was open.
Master Dixian said, “Disastrous! The door is closed, but he went out through the window. He probably went to jump into a river.”
They immediately told the whole sangha assembly to search high and low for this disciple. Near the monastery was a very deep moat where boats could pass. They searched in the temple first, then along the riverbank. After searching for about half a mile, they found out that he had already drowned in the river.
There was no choice. They pulled him out, carried him back to the monastery, recited sutras for him and buried him. At that time, his daughter had grown up and gotten married. She had lived with relatives after her father ordained and her mother died. That day she turned up at the temple uninvited. Master Dixian was just about to send someone to inform her of her father’s death. Her home was not far away. She seemed distressed.
She told Master Dixian, “Last night I had a dream. My parents took office today.”
Master Dixian asked, “What office?”
She said, “My father became the earth god and my mother became the earth goddess.”
Master Dixian suddenly understood everything. Coincidentally, a new earth deity temple had just been built not far from the monastery.
The sangha assembly in the temple recited sutras for him while his daughter wept. Master Dixian said to his disciple, “Today you have become an earth god. We are transferring merit to you. You should show some spiritual response to us.”
Suddenly a strong whirlwind arose, spinning for a long time. Master Dixian said this must have been the spiritual response. Master Dixian said this story shows Chan practitioners that even one wrong thought can lead to a bad result.
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| The scenic Jinshan Monastery on Jinshan Mountain |
Speaking of Amitabha recitation, Master Dixian remembered another disciple. These were all stories that Master Dixian personally told.
Master Dixian said, “I also had another disciple. This man was a craftsman, commonly called a “pot-repairer.” Broken bowls, plates, and porcelain wares could be repaired and used again. In those days, this profession still existed. In ancient times, bowls broken into three or four pieces could still be repaired and reused. Foreigners did not understand why Chinese repaired bowls and still used them. People in earlier times were very frugal.
At that time, Master Dixian was practicing Chan at Jinshan. Earlier on, he had lectured on sutras for many years, but people said he had never practiced Chan, so his Dharma talks lacked power. After he practiced Chan at Jinshan for many years, people believed him when he lectured.
At Jinshan he served as guest master. One day a fellow townsman, his childhood playmate, came to see him. Master Dixian had originally been a merchant and had learned medicine from his uncle. This bowl-repair craftsman came and asked to become a monk and his disciple.
Master Dixian said, “You can’t. You are already over forty. You cannot read. You cannot learn Buddhist doctrine. You can’t endure ascetic practice. Becoming a monk would only bring trouble.” Master Dixian advised this craftman many times, but he insisted. Finally Master Dixian said, “If you must leave home, you must follow my instructions.”
The craftsman said, “Of course. If I recognize you as master, I will listen to everything you say.”
Master Dixian said, “At your age it is too late to study doctrine. You will just cultivate instead.”
The man replied, “Whatever you say, I will listen.”
“There was once a craftsman who left home and attained realization. You should follow his example.”
“As long as you accept me as your disciple, I will follow all your words.”
Master Dixian said, “After you ordain, you don’t need to take the full precepts. I will find you a small temple. Just stay in that temple without leaving and recite Amitabha. I will find you sponsors to provide food.”
In Ningbo, many people believed in Buddhism. Almost every village had a small temple. Master Dixian said, “You only need to recite ‘Namo Amitabha Buddha.’ When you are tired, rest. When rested, recite again. Recite day and night without interruption. Don’t worry about anything else. Eat two meals a day.”
Master Dixian arranged everything for this disciple. The master was famous at that time, he had many devotees who helped him arrange this matter. The master taught his disciple the method of Amitabha-recitation and told him to do retreat. This was a kind of convenient retreat or loose retreat. There was only one monastic in the temple. Everyday, an old woman came to cook two meals.
The Master simply told the disciple that Amitabha recitation was a guaranteed good path. The disciple did not even know what exactly are the benefits of reciting Amitabha. Then Master Dixian returned to Jinshan.
So, this disciple practiced for three to four years. He did not leave the temple. Usually people are enthusiastic at the beginning and slowly become lazy over time. As the saying goes, “Ordained for one year and the Buddha is before you; ordained for more than three years and the Buddha is as far away as the Ling mountain.”
But, contrary to this saying, this disciple remained very diligent. He followed Master Dixian’s instructions exactly. When he was awake, he always recited. As he had strong legs from his previous job, he often circumambulated the Buddha while he chanted. When he grew tired, he would sit and chant. Master Dixian had no idea how his disciple was doing.
After about three to four years, one day, he told the old woman who cooked for him, “Tomorrow you needn’t cook for me. I am not taking lunch.” The old woman didn’t think much of it as she assumed someone was inviting him out for lunch. But she had not seen him leave the temple for three to four years. He said he had two relatives or friends staying locally and he wanted to visit them. He told the old woman, “Don’t come and cook tomorrow morning.” The next day, the old woman thought of him at lunchtime and went to see if he was back at the temple.
The temple was poor and they did not fear thieves. The door was never closed. No one responded to the calls of the old woman. She entered and saw him standing by the bed, facing the window, holding prayer beads. He had no response.
She looked carefully and saw he was already dead. He had died standing while reciting Amitabha. The old lady got a fright and told the neighbours, “Shifu (Master) has died standing.”
In one hand he held the rosary; the other hand was clenched close with ashes on his fingers. When this hand was pried opened, there were eight or nine silver coins… then people understood, the monk had hidden his savings in the ash box used for spitting because that was the last place any thief would think of looking for money.
It seemed that he had prepared the money to be used for arranging his funeral ahead of time. This was said by Master Dixian.
Later the devotees who were helping this monk’s retreat informed Master Dixian, writing in the letter, “Your disciple died standing.” Master Dixian arrived the next day by boat. He saw his disciple still standing ramrod straight after two or three days. Master Dixian then made the funeral arrangements.
Master Dixian praised this disciple greatly, “You did not get ordained in vain. Your attainment surpasses those of great Dharma Masters who give Dharma teachings and famous abbots of holy mountains. No one can hold a candle to your achievement.”
One name “Amitabha” with focus and diligence. Not mixing it with other practices. Not breaking the continuity of practice. This is the key to success.
Master Dixian had two disciples. One practiced Chan, the other recited Amitabha. All of you can compare the difference. One cultivated Chan arduously for so many years and ended up as an earth god. The other pot-mender recited Amitabha for three to four years and passed away standing up. He even stood for three days. This is some real kungfu (skill).
I heard Master Dixian telling these stories twice. This really happened. It is a very good demonstration and admonition to us. Now everyone knows how reciting Amitabha is a far superior and easier method… Amitabha recitation can be practiced by anyone without great learning in the Dharma. As long as you are willing to recite, with no doubts, without mixing with other methods and do it with continuity, anyone can go to the pureland.
