Layman Pang Yun (740–808)
Layman Pang Yun was also known by the stylised name of ‘Dao Xuan’ (道玄) which translates as ‘Profound Way’. He was from the Hengyang (衡阳) area of Hunan province, and is remembered as a very accomplished lay-practitioner of Ch’an Buddhism who studied under many great teachers, such as Mazu Daoyi (马祖道一) [709-788], Shitou Xiqian (石头希迁) [700-790], Danxia Tianran (丹霞天然) [739-824], Yaoshan Weiyan (药山惟俨) [751-834], Bai Ling (百灵) [dates unknown], Damei Fachang (大梅法常) [751-839], Luo Pu (洛浦) [dates unknown], Yangshan Huiji (仰山慧寂) [807-883] as well as many other prominent Ch’an masters. It was well known that he had achieved full enlightenment and later generations of eminent scholars routinely referred to him as China’s ‘Vimalakirti’ (Wei Mo Ji - 维摩诘) and as the rebirth of the great Buddhist scholar named Fu Dashi (傅大士) [497-569]. The common people referred to him as ‘Layman Pang’ (庞居士 – Pang Jushi), ‘Esteemed Pang’ (Pang – Weng - 庞翁) and Xiangyang Pang the Great Scholar (襄阳庞大士 – Xiang Yang Pang Da Shi).
For generations the Pang family had been adherents of the Confucian School (儒 – Ru) and in his youth, Pang Yun had been a Confucian scholar. However, as Pang Yun wanted to understand the reality of existence, he took refuge in the Buddha and began the practice of the Buddhist method. In this quest he initially called on Ch’an Master Shitou Xiqian and asked: “Who is the person that does not associate with the ten thousand dharmas?” Master Shitou Xiqian moved his hand to cover the visitor’s mouth (and there was a sudden silence). At that exact moment, Pang Yun realised a profound understanding. Later, Pang Yun called on Ch’an Master Mazu Daoyi and asked him: “Who is the person that does not associate with the ten thousand dharmas?” Master Mazu Daoyi replied: “I will answer your question after you swallow all the water in the West River (西江 – Xi Jiang).” When Pang Yun heard this, he was immediately enlightened here and now. To deepen his understanding, Pang Yun stayed at the temple for two years and practised the Ch’an method.
After this, Pang Yun broke his connection with the world of greed by gathering up his family’s many valuable possessions into a boat, where he had them all tipped into the Xiang River (湘江 – Xiang Jiang). Having broken with the worldly shackles of money and wealth accumulation, he took his wife and children to live at the foot of Deer Gate Mountain (鹿门山 – Lu Men Shan) where they made a living from cultivating the land. As Pang Yun was very happy after his breakthrough using the Ch’an method, he took to making objects from bamboo, which he sold in the local market to gain a small income.
One day Pang Yun said: “As neither my son nor daughter will get married (due to their advanced states of Ch’an realisation), all my family can stay together and speak the language of the uncreate (无生话 – Wu Sheng Hua).” This is a truly remarkable story of an entire family of realised Buddhas!
When Pang Yun knew that his own nirvana was near, he asked Ling Zhao (灵照) - his daughter - to go outside and see what time of day it was. Ling Zhao soon returned and said to her father: “The sun is in the middle of the sky (i.e. it is mid-day) but that there is an eclipse and the sun is now obscured from view!” Pang Yun (who was sat in meditation preparing to leave his body) was surprised to hear this, got up off of his seat and went outside to look. While her father was outside, Ling Zhao quickly sat in her father’s seat in the cross legged position, brought her palms together and passed away (with her body remaining upright). When Pang Yun returned indoors (after learning the eclipse was a hoax) he saw that his daughter was already dead. He smiled and said: “My daughter is most astute and nimble!” He delayed his passing into nirvana so that he could make arrangements for his daughter’s funeral. When the local Governor Yu Di (于頔) came to enquire about his health, Pang Yun answered: “All that matters is the direct realisation of the empty nature of all things. When this is achieved, that which is false is not perceived as real.” Pang Yun then placed his head on Yu Di’s knee and happily entered nirvana. When his wife heard of this she exclaimed: “first my crazy daughter leaves me, and now my ignorant old husband! Neither considered my well-being – how cruel they are!” When she told her son, her son stopped working in the field and after making a ‘Ga’ (嘎) sound, he placed his chin on the handle of hoe and entered nirvana standing-up. Soon after this, his mother arranged for his body to be cremated. The Pang family entering nirvana whilst sitting, lying or standing had won the admiration of people far and wide. Mrs Pang – after witnessing her family leave the world in this extraordinary manner – retired into an isolated place and was never heard of again.
©opyright: Adrian Chan-Wyles (ShiDaDao) 2016.
Original Chinese Language Source Text:
http://baike.baidu.com/view/14700.htm?hold=synstd&reforce=%C5%D3%D4%CC
庞蕴居士
庞蕴,字道玄,湖南衡阳人,是唐代著名的在家禅者,他曾在马祖道一、石头希迁座下习禅,与丹霞天然、药山惟俨、百灵、大梅法常、洛浦、仰山慧寂等当代知名禅师频相往来,悟境甚高,后世誉称他为中国的维摩诘,与傅大士并称于世。世人又称他为庞居士、庞翁、襄阳庞大士。
庞家世代为儒,但因庞蕴志在探寻人生真相,所以皈依佛门。他最初参谒石头希迁禅师时,问道:“不与万法为侣者,是什么人?”石头以手掩口,庞蕴若有所悟。后来,又以此问题参礼马祖道一禅师,马祖答道:“待汝一口吸尽西江水,即向汝道。”庞蕴于言下领旨,于是留住两年。从此以后,机锋迅捷,为禅林所瞩目。
庞蕴曾将数万家珍用船运载,抛沈于湘江,去除世俗金钱的束缚,然后偕同妻子、儿女躬耕于鹿门山下,生活上如有所需,就编制些竹器到市场变卖过活,简化所求,一家人沈浸在禅悦法喜之中。
“有男不婚,有女不嫁,大家团栾头,共说无生话。”这首偈子,实是他们佛化家庭最佳的写照。
庞蕴即将入灭之际,要女儿灵照到门外观看时日早晚,灵照返回屋内回答:“已经日正当中,而且还是日蚀呢!”当庞蕴才一脚踏出户外,想要观看日蚀奇景时,灵照便迅速登上父亲的座椅,合掌坐亡。庞蕴入屋后,才知道上了女儿的当,便笑道:“我女机锋敏捷啊!”延缓七天后才入寂。当襄州州牧于□来探病时,他说:“但愿空诸所有,慎勿实诸所无。”说完,便枕着于□的膝,怡然入寂。当庞婆知道庞蕴与灵照都已入寂了,叹道:“这痴女和无知老汉,竟然不告而别,何其忍心啊!”就将这消息告诉他儿子,他儿子“嘎”的一声,拄着锄头,站着往生了。庞婆将儿子火化后,说了一偈:“坐卧立化未为奇,不及庞婆撒手归。双手拨开无缝石,不留踪迹与人知。”而不知所终。
庞蕴一家四口,谈笑之间出入生死,或坐、或站、或卧,展现了禅者自由自在的一派潇洒风采,博得后人无限的欣羡与赞叹。
For generations the Pang family had been adherents of the Confucian School (儒 – Ru) and in his youth, Pang Yun had been a Confucian scholar. However, as Pang Yun wanted to understand the reality of existence, he took refuge in the Buddha and began the practice of the Buddhist method. In this quest he initially called on Ch’an Master Shitou Xiqian and asked: “Who is the person that does not associate with the ten thousand dharmas?” Master Shitou Xiqian moved his hand to cover the visitor’s mouth (and there was a sudden silence). At that exact moment, Pang Yun realised a profound understanding. Later, Pang Yun called on Ch’an Master Mazu Daoyi and asked him: “Who is the person that does not associate with the ten thousand dharmas?” Master Mazu Daoyi replied: “I will answer your question after you swallow all the water in the West River (西江 – Xi Jiang).” When Pang Yun heard this, he was immediately enlightened here and now. To deepen his understanding, Pang Yun stayed at the temple for two years and practised the Ch’an method.
After this, Pang Yun broke his connection with the world of greed by gathering up his family’s many valuable possessions into a boat, where he had them all tipped into the Xiang River (湘江 – Xiang Jiang). Having broken with the worldly shackles of money and wealth accumulation, he took his wife and children to live at the foot of Deer Gate Mountain (鹿门山 – Lu Men Shan) where they made a living from cultivating the land. As Pang Yun was very happy after his breakthrough using the Ch’an method, he took to making objects from bamboo, which he sold in the local market to gain a small income.
One day Pang Yun said: “As neither my son nor daughter will get married (due to their advanced states of Ch’an realisation), all my family can stay together and speak the language of the uncreate (无生话 – Wu Sheng Hua).” This is a truly remarkable story of an entire family of realised Buddhas!
When Pang Yun knew that his own nirvana was near, he asked Ling Zhao (灵照) - his daughter - to go outside and see what time of day it was. Ling Zhao soon returned and said to her father: “The sun is in the middle of the sky (i.e. it is mid-day) but that there is an eclipse and the sun is now obscured from view!” Pang Yun (who was sat in meditation preparing to leave his body) was surprised to hear this, got up off of his seat and went outside to look. While her father was outside, Ling Zhao quickly sat in her father’s seat in the cross legged position, brought her palms together and passed away (with her body remaining upright). When Pang Yun returned indoors (after learning the eclipse was a hoax) he saw that his daughter was already dead. He smiled and said: “My daughter is most astute and nimble!” He delayed his passing into nirvana so that he could make arrangements for his daughter’s funeral. When the local Governor Yu Di (于頔) came to enquire about his health, Pang Yun answered: “All that matters is the direct realisation of the empty nature of all things. When this is achieved, that which is false is not perceived as real.” Pang Yun then placed his head on Yu Di’s knee and happily entered nirvana. When his wife heard of this she exclaimed: “first my crazy daughter leaves me, and now my ignorant old husband! Neither considered my well-being – how cruel they are!” When she told her son, her son stopped working in the field and after making a ‘Ga’ (嘎) sound, he placed his chin on the handle of hoe and entered nirvana standing-up. Soon after this, his mother arranged for his body to be cremated. The Pang family entering nirvana whilst sitting, lying or standing had won the admiration of people far and wide. Mrs Pang – after witnessing her family leave the world in this extraordinary manner – retired into an isolated place and was never heard of again.
©opyright: Adrian Chan-Wyles (ShiDaDao) 2016.
Original Chinese Language Source Text:
http://baike.baidu.com/view/14700.htm?hold=synstd&reforce=%C5%D3%D4%CC
庞蕴居士
庞蕴,字道玄,湖南衡阳人,是唐代著名的在家禅者,他曾在马祖道一、石头希迁座下习禅,与丹霞天然、药山惟俨、百灵、大梅法常、洛浦、仰山慧寂等当代知名禅师频相往来,悟境甚高,后世誉称他为中国的维摩诘,与傅大士并称于世。世人又称他为庞居士、庞翁、襄阳庞大士。
庞家世代为儒,但因庞蕴志在探寻人生真相,所以皈依佛门。他最初参谒石头希迁禅师时,问道:“不与万法为侣者,是什么人?”石头以手掩口,庞蕴若有所悟。后来,又以此问题参礼马祖道一禅师,马祖答道:“待汝一口吸尽西江水,即向汝道。”庞蕴于言下领旨,于是留住两年。从此以后,机锋迅捷,为禅林所瞩目。
庞蕴曾将数万家珍用船运载,抛沈于湘江,去除世俗金钱的束缚,然后偕同妻子、儿女躬耕于鹿门山下,生活上如有所需,就编制些竹器到市场变卖过活,简化所求,一家人沈浸在禅悦法喜之中。
“有男不婚,有女不嫁,大家团栾头,共说无生话。”这首偈子,实是他们佛化家庭最佳的写照。
庞蕴即将入灭之际,要女儿灵照到门外观看时日早晚,灵照返回屋内回答:“已经日正当中,而且还是日蚀呢!”当庞蕴才一脚踏出户外,想要观看日蚀奇景时,灵照便迅速登上父亲的座椅,合掌坐亡。庞蕴入屋后,才知道上了女儿的当,便笑道:“我女机锋敏捷啊!”延缓七天后才入寂。当襄州州牧于□来探病时,他说:“但愿空诸所有,慎勿实诸所无。”说完,便枕着于□的膝,怡然入寂。当庞婆知道庞蕴与灵照都已入寂了,叹道:“这痴女和无知老汉,竟然不告而别,何其忍心啊!”就将这消息告诉他儿子,他儿子“嘎”的一声,拄着锄头,站着往生了。庞婆将儿子火化后,说了一偈:“坐卧立化未为奇,不及庞婆撒手归。双手拨开无缝石,不留踪迹与人知。”而不知所终。
庞蕴一家四口,谈笑之间出入生死,或坐、或站、或卧,展现了禅者自由自在的一派潇洒风采,博得后人无限的欣羡与赞叹。