Then Master Xiaoshan said, "Fake Chan meditators," which refers to people who pretend that they are enlightened, that they are learned and experienced, and that they have walked the path. The Chinese words for "fake" mean literally "trumped up," as in an essay which is completely wrong; one is just dogmatically writing one's own ideas, which other people cannot accept or understand. Thus he said, "Fake Chan meditators," fraudulent meditators, "are as many as sesame seeds and millet seeds." Dhyana Master Changzhong asked what he meant, and Xiaoshan explained. But he did not accept the explanation, and said to Master Xiaoshan again, "Hey, you!"

"Are you imitating a demon and trying to confuse people in this place?" He said, "Are you here trying to imitate the demon to charm and confuse people?" This was even more impolite. When he said that, Xiaoshan hit him right on the head. "Rascal! I'll beat your demon!" When it seems to you that others are demons, you're already on the verge of a demonic state yourself. Therefore, Master Xiaoshan hit him. We should understand that Master Xiaoshan was actually painstakingly trying to teach him. He really wanted to discipline him, seeing him being so rude. Once he was beaten, he behaved. His wild mind was subdued. The haughtiness, arrogance, and the obstacle of ignorance were all beaten to death. The net of stupidity was shattered.

Thus, he did labor for three years. When we seek the Dharma, we must be diligent; we should not indulge in comfort. We cannot say, "Oh! I want to be a patriarch, a boss, even though I have no accomplishments yet." This will not do. People like this are the scum of Buddhism. Buddhism does not include such people, who don't even understand themselves or know what the matter is with themselves. Let me tell you that when I first left the home-life, the abbot was not in the monastery. He went to other temples for some business. For over half a year, I was beaten and scolded every day at the temple. Not like you. As soon as you came here and left the home-life, you became patriarchs. I have become what I am today because of those beatings and rebukes. Although my temperament was such that I could not take being beaten and scolded, I patiently bore it all. Let me ask you, what kind of cultivation are you doing? Cultivators don't accomplish the Way by enjoying comfort and detesting labor, or by being lazy and just eating their fill. You have to pay your due. "Those faking enlightenment are as many as hemp and reeds." People who pretend enlightenment, those "fake Chan meditators," are as numerous as hemp and reeds. Reeds grow very abundantly beside the water.

Imitate a demon and try to confuse people. "People" refers to not just one person, but many, because Master Xiaoshan said before, "...as many as hemp and reeds." So when Master Xiaoshan called him a fake Chan meditator, he scolded Master Xiaoshan in return by saying, "Hey you! Are you imitating a demon and trying to confuse people in this place?" You see! If he knew it was Master Xiaoshan, he would not have scolded him. He would not have been so audacious. When he saw someone coming out of the temple, he probably assumed it was some monk working in the kitchen either tending fire, cooking, or carrying water. Therefore, he arrogantly scolded him by saying, "Hey you! Are you trying to be a demon king to confuse people?" And Master Xiaoshan hit him. With this beating, he attained some enlightenment. Thus, he "did labor for three years." He was not lazy. "So he built a hut..." After three years, he built a straw hut. Where? In Bingshan. "For twenty years, he did not have any contact with the world."

Rending the net of stupidity of the mind and consciousness: Master Xiaoshan's beating shattered his stupid views. There was no need for the mind or the consciousness to discriminate and do the guess work. There was no need, after "rending the net of stupidity of the mind and consciousness."

And rekindling the torch of wisdom, he entered the flow of sages and worthies. Since the net of stupidity was shattered, the torch of wisdom was lit up again. Consequently, he entered the flow of sages and worthies. That means that he certified to the fruition of sages; he was enlightened. This was true enlightenment and true certification.

The waters of Dong surged with great waves which could not be blocked. After his enlightenment, his wisdom and eloquence caused the waters of the Cao Dong Sect to surge with great waves which no one could block. At that time, even jealousy and obstruction from other people could not stop him. No one could block him.

Joining up with one another, all rushed here to cultivate. "Joining up" refers to people in groups of three or five. Crowding the road, they all rushed here to cultivate.