The Record of Linji

Critical Examinations

34 critical examinations i One day when Huangbo entered the kitchen he asked the head rice-cook, “What are you doing?” The cook said,“I’m picking over the rice for the monks.” “How much do they eat in a day?” asked Huangbo. “Two and a half shi,” said the cook. “Isn’t that too much?” asked Huangbo. “I’m afraid it isn’t enough,” replied the cook. Huangbo struck him. Later the cook mentioned this to Linji. Linji said, “I’ll test the old fellow for you.” As soon as Linji came to attend Huangbo, Huangbo told him the story. “The cook didn’t understand—Venerable Priest, kindly give a turningword in place of the cook,” said Linji, who then asked,“Isn’t that too much?” Huangbo said,“Well, why not say,‘We’ll eat a meal again tomorrow!’” “Why talk about tomorrow—eat it right now!” said Linji, slapping Huangbo in the face. “This lunatic has come here again to pull the tiger’s whiskers,” said Huangbo. Linji shouted and went out. Later, Guishan asked Yangshan, “What did these two worthies have in mind?” “What do you think,Venerable Priest?” asked Yangshan. “Only when you have a child do you understand fatherly love,” Guishan answered. “Not at all!” said Yangshan. “Then what do you think?” asked Guishan. “It’s more like,‘To bring in a thief and ruin the house’,” replied Yangshan. ii The master asked a monk, “Where do you come from?” The monk shouted. The master saluted him and motioned him to sit down. The monk hesitated. The master hit him. Seeing another monk coming, the master raised his whisk. The monk bowed low. The master hit him. Seeing still another monk coming, the master again raised his whisk. The monk paid no attention. The master hit him, too. 289 290 291 c r i t i c a l e x a m i nat i o n s | 35 293 292 iii One day when the master and Puhua were attending a dinner at a patron’s house, the master asked, “‘A hair swallows up the great sea and a mustard seed contains Mount Sumeru.’ Is this the marvelous activity of supernatural power or is it original substance as it is?”Puhua kicked over the dinner table. “How coarse!” exclaimed the master. “What place do you think this is—talking about coarse and fine!” said Puhua. The next day the master and Puhua again attended a dinner. The master asked, “How does today’s feast compare with yesterday’s?” Puhua kicked over the dinner table as before. “Good enough,” said the master, “but how coarse!” “Blind man!” said Puhua.“What’s buddhadharma got to do with coarse and fine?” The master stuck out his tongue. iv One day when the master and the venerable old priests Heyang and Muta were sitting together around the fire-pit in the Monks’ Hall, the master said, “Every day Puhua goes through the streets acting like a lunatic.Who knows whether he’s an ordinary person or a sage?” Before he had finished speaking Puhua came in.“Are you a commoner or a sage?” the master asked. “Now, you tell me whether I’m a commoner or a sage,” answered Puhua. The master shouted. Pointing his finger at them, Puhua said, “Heyang is a new bride, Muta is a Chan granny, and Linji is a young menial, but he has the eye.” “You thief!” cried the master. “Thief, thief!” cried Puhua, and went out. v One day Puhua was eating raw vegetables in front of the Monks’Hall.The master saw him and said,“Just like an ass!” “Heehaw, heehaw!” brayed Puhua. “You thief!” said the master. “Thief, thief!” cried Puhua, and went off. vi Puhua was always going around the streets ringing a little bell and calling out: 294 295 36 | t h e r e c o r d o f l i n j i 296 297 Coming as brightness, I hit the brightness; Coming as darkness, I hit the darkness; Coming from the four quarters and eight directions, I hit like a whirlwind; Coming from empty sky, I lash like a flail. The master told his attendant to go and, the moment he heard Puhua say these words, to grab him and ask, “If coming is not at all thus, what then?” [The attendant went and did so.] Puhua pushed him away...