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WHEN
THE MASTER SHOWED HIM THE TEXT TO ASK HIM THE MEANING OF SOME CHARACTERS THE
PATRIARCH SAID, I DON’T RECOGNIZE THE WORDS; ASK ABOUT THE MEANING.
Then
Bhiksuni Wu Chin Tsang took the volume of The NIRVANA SUTRA to ask about some
characters. There were words she didn't recognize she wanted to ask the Great
Master, the Sixth Patriarch, about. He said, "I can't read the characters.
But you can ask me about the meaning. I understand the meaning. I don't
recognize the words, but you can ask anything at all about the meaning."
"SINCE
YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE THE WORDS, HOW CAN YOU UNDERSTAND THE MEANING?
THE
PATRIARCH REPLIED, "THE WONDERFUL PRINCIPLE OF ALL BUDDHAS HAS NOTHING TO
DO WITH LANGUAGE.
Bhiksuni
Wu Chin Tsang heard the Great Master, the Sixth Patriarch say that and she
replied, "You don't even know the words, how could you know the
meaning?"
"It
hasn't any connection with words," replied the Patriarch. "I know the
doctrines which were spoken. Whether or not I can read the words doesn't make
any difference."
THE
MASTER WAS REALLY SURPRISED. SHE WENT EVERYWHERE IN THE COUNTY INFORMING THE
ELDERS AND VIRTUOUS ONES SAYING, "HE IS A MASTER WHO HAS THE WAY. IT IS FITTING
THAT WE ASK HIM TO RECEIVE OUR OFFERINGS."
She
said, "This person who has left the home life has the Way; he has
cultivated. He has skill. He's enlightened." All those meanings are
encompassed in the phrase, "A master who has the Way."
THE
ANCIENT MONASTERY PAO LIN HAD BEEN BURNED BY ARMIES AT THE END OF THE SUI
DYNASTY, SO ON THE OLD FOUNDATIONS ANOTHER MONASTERY WAS BUILT.
Pao
Lin Bodhimandala, at the site of Nan Hua Monastery, was burned during the war,
which took place at the end of the Sui dynasty. Once it was burned no one could
live there, of course. When temples are built, sometimes they are destroyed.
When destroyed, then rebuild. When the elder monks made monasteries they didn't
build them very solidly. If they are not built well then they deteriorate
quickly and have to be rebuilt.
THEN
THEY REQUESTED THE PATRIARCH TO RESIDE THERE. SOON IT BECAME A FLOURISHING
MONASTERY.
Within
a short time the place became a large Bodhimandala of the Triple Jewel.
A
GATHA SAYS:
THE
WONDERFUL PRINCIPLE OF ALL BUDDHAS
HAS
NO CONNECTION WITH WORDS.
CONSTANTLY
RECITING THE NIRVANA SUTRA
SHE
DELIBERATELY SEEMED SURPRISED.
DRAGON
GIRL DISPLAYED HER PEARL
SHE
FUNCTIONED WITH THE EASE OF CHIU TSU'S MOTHER.
DWELLING
NOWHERE, THERE WAS NOWHERE SHE DID NOT DWELL
HER
FLESH BODY REMAINS IN THE WORLD.
The
subtle wonderful doctrines of all Buddhas cannot be adequately represented by
language. Bhiksuni Wu Chin Tsang constantly recited the NIRVANA SUTRA, and
actually she understood it quite well, but deliberately acted very surprised.
When the dragon girl displayed her pearl and offered it to the Buddha she
instantaneously became a Buddha. Bhiksuni Wu Chin Tsang was like the mother of
Ch'iu Tzu; she dwelt nowhere and there was nowhere she did not dwell. Her flesh
body remains in the world as a model for those of subsequent generations.
ANOTHER
GATHA SAYS:
CONSTANTLY
RECITING THE NIRVANA SUTRA
SHE
BOARDED THE BOAT OF COMPASSION.
PROTECTING
AND UPHOLDING THE PROPER DHARMA
SHE
WAITED, FOR THE FLOCKS OF WORTHIES.
LITERARY
PRAJNA IS NOT
THE
ESSENTIAL TRUTH.
THE
MIND SEALS WONDERFUL MEANING
CANNOT
BE EXPRESSED.
SHE
GUIDED LIVING BEINGS
TO
RECOGNIZE THE SAGE,
ESTABLISHING
A BUDDHA FIELD
WHERE
MEN AND WOMEN WERE TAUGHT.
THE
SOURCE OF TS'AO HSI'S FLOW IS TRANSMITTED THROUGH THE AGES.
NAN
HUA MONASTERY AND BHIKSUNI WU CHIN ARE PERPETUALLY FRAGRANT.
Bhiksuni
Wu Chin Tsang, who recited the MAHAPARINIRVANASUTRA, mounted a great boat of
compassion and came. She vowed to help the Great Master the Sixth Patriarch,
propagate the Proper Dharma, and waited for the worthy ones of the future who
would cultivate the Way. The spoken word, the written word are not the genuine
wonderful truth of the Buddha. The wonderful meaning of using the mind to seal
the mind is basically inexpressible. Fundamentally there isn't anything to say.
The Bhiksuni introduced many living beings to the Sixth Patriarch so that they
came to recognize the Sage. A Bodhimandala was built where men and women were
taught. Another monk here also has a Ts'ao Hsi source and yet he basically
hasn't any idea where Ts'ao Hsi is; he's never been there, and yet he's come up
with Ts'ao Hsi source. The water of Ts'ao Hsi has been handed down from the past
and still remains. Nan Hua Monastery and Bhiksuni Wu Chin Tsang have about them
an eternally auspicious air.
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