Farong Niutou Zen Master
After reading many Confucian classics and Buddhist scriptures, Fa Rong said:
The Confucian principles and many secular articles are like chaff, while the Buddhist teachings such as Prajna and Contemplation can save people to the other side of happiness.
From then on, Farong became a monk.
Farong joined Master Jing to learn Taoism.Master Jing had outstanding Taoism and was well-known at that time.Farong was working while hearing the truth.Farong believes that the fundamental reason for seeking the Tao lies in the unity of the mind and the mind, otherwise false thoughts will never be eliminated.Fa Rong thus gathered his mind and meditated, practiced for twenty years, and understood all kinds of Buddhist teachings at once.
Want to practice alone, leave Master Jing, Farong builds a thatched house to make a meditation room under the rock north of Youqi Temple in Niutou Mountain.Farong practices hard day and night in the room to seek the ultimate path.Within a few years, hundreds of people came to seek the truth from him.
The Zen room built at first had incomplete walls on all four sides.The disciples Daoshi and Daoying were practicing in the meditation room. In the middle of the night, a monster like a sheep rushed into the meditation hall, kicked and screamed, and stepped on the two of them.The two of them remained motionless and focused on their practice.Seeing that they were not disturbed, the monster walked out of the meditation room and disappeared.
Fa Rong sat in a stone house in the mountains, and the house was ten steps deep.At night, Fa Rong was practicing, and a divine snake crawled to the door of the stone chamber to demonstrate.The serpent is ten feet long and its eyes are like lanterns.The divine snake stayed at the door all night, and saw that Farong did not move at all, so she crawled away.
In the mountains where Farong practiced, there were groups of tigers and wolves, and hunters did not dare to enter the mountains.Farong comes from the mountains.Farong preached to the monks in the meditation room, and deer came to the ground to listen, without any fear.There were two big deer, so they simply lived in the meditation room of Farong and left after listening to the Dharma for three years.Farong had a harmonious relationship with beasts, and many beasts often fed from his hands.
Farong and the monks cooked on the cliff. There was a waterfall on the cliff, but the water flow was very small and it was inconvenient to use.One day Farong walked slowly, and he pointed to the mountains in the east and said:
In the past, Yuan Gong used a stick in his hand to support the ground, and spring water flowed out from the ground. Geng was dressed up, so the water in the broken jar naturally overflowed.This is all due to sincerity.If this place can live for a long time, the clear spring will surely overflow.
After a night, the mountains to the east were indeed clear and sweet, warm in winter and cool in summer.The spring water can splash onto the cliff, and Farong and others can use a rice pot to collect water on the top of the mountain, and cook it, and the aroma is scented.
Another time, Fa Rong was preaching the Lotus Sutra under the rocks, and it was snowing heavily at that time.After a while, two fairy flowers floated down from the sky, as brilliant as a lotus. After seven days, the flowers suddenly disappeared, and everyone was surprised.
There are Buddhist cave temples near Niutou Mountain, including seven Buddhist scriptures, namely 43 types, namely Buddhist scriptures, Taoist scriptures, Buddhist scriptures, common scriptures, and medical folk remedies.This temple was built by a Sikong named Liu in the early years of the Liu Song Dynasty. His family was very rich, so he searched for the Seven Classics and copied them to use them to maintain the temple.
Farong often went to the Buddhist temples to discuss Buddhist scriptures with Master Jing. Master Jing was in charge of the Seven Treasures. Farong went to ask questions every day. After a long time, Master Jing had some understanding of Farong's character and talent, so he asked him to read the Seven Sutras.Farong reads the scriptures day and night, and after eight years, he has understood the seven scriptures in his heart.
After that, Farong returned to the mountains again, staying in peace and quiet. His meditation room was empty at this time, with only one cushion, and other places were covered with grass.The bed he was sitting on had two inches of dust.Fa Rong didn't care about this, he just meditated and practiced, and was indifferent to his body.
In the seventh year of Wude (the reign of Emperor Gaozu of Tang Dynasty Li Yuan), the king's army went to fight against the rebellion in the Yangtze River area.There were nearly 5,000 monks in that place.In order to stabilize the order, Zuo Pushe Fang Xuanling submitted a memorial:
There are many monks and nuns living in various states. They can follow the old Guandong system. Each state has only one temple, and only thirty people are left in each temple. All the others are left back to their hometowns and registered.
Farong could not tolerate such harsh laws and went to the capital to make excuses. Censor Wei Ting carefully read Farong's remarks and found that his arguments were sufficient and his writing was gorgeous.Three months later, Wei Ting brought Fa Rong to Fang Xuanling. Fang Xuanling admired the master's noble character, but was stubborn in his previous views:
It’s not that your opinion is unreasonable, but I once wrote a letter to explain this matter, how can I change it?Of course, I will not let monks like you go to the layman's house. If you leave some people with higher virtues, you will not need your care for others.
Although Farong insisted on his opinion, he knew that the current situation was difficult to change for the time being and would not last long.He returned to the temple and insisted on saving monks and preaching.
Yonghui (Tang Gaozong's reign )In the third year, a local official invited Farong to Jianchu Temple to teach the Mahayana teachings, and thousands of people listened to the lectures.When Farong talked about the Truth of Destruction, he was eloquent and exaggerated in his righteousness.The earth was shaken by his preaching, and the listeners were suddenly disturbed, and Zhong Erqing, incense burner, and sitting on the bed were all shaken one after another.Those who did not listen to these outside the temple did not feel them.
In the middle of Yonghui, Ji Xiu, the eldest son of Ji Jingzhi, the magistrate of Jiangning County, was born to be devoted to Buddhism and advocated Mahayana.Ji Xiu admired Fa Rong's virtues very much, and together with many famous scholars and ordinary people, he invited Fa Rong to the state to preach the Dharma.Farong did not agree, Ji Xiu led everyone to come three times before Farong agreed.
Many people in the state have lived in Buddhism and do not believe in Buddhism and have repeatedly obstructed Farong's lecture.When Farong came to the lecture, preached the wonderful Dharma, answered questions, and explained Buddhist principles, everyone was impressed. Farong preached, like clouds and rain, and like a river surging.There were 3,000 monks and lay people listening to the lecture, and they were covered with yards where the preaching was taught.
Among them are some monks who have practiced for a long time, who are full of arrogance and arrogant.But when he heard Farong's high theory, everyone was frightened.He could not save face, but just bit the bullet and blamed Farong. Farong always admitted that he had little knowledge and was difficult to compare with those of the most powerful people, and did not care about them.The questions they asked will be answered one by one without any obstacles.
Farong warned everyone who listened:
The Buddha's teachings before, but now the Buddhist principles still exist.Although people have three parts of ordinary people, there is only one ultimate way of Buddhism.But you cannot understand the great way by listening to the lectures at once. You must also hear the truth and see the action. Don’t be tired of external things.As long as we overcome the roots of greed, anger, and ignorance, we can be liberated.
The listener asks himself if he has gained something.
At this time, Chen Shuozhen, a witch in Muzhou, used evil techniques to deceive people and misled the good.Many monks from all over the world went to Jianye to gather. The officials in the prefectures and counties believed that they were demon disciples and sent people to search them.The monks fled everywhere, but no temple dared to take them in.
Farong is practicing in the secluded place in the mountains.The monks in the temple have long been hungry and cold due to shortage of food.However, every day, fleeing monks came to join us, and the total number exceeded 300.Even the original monks wanted to disperse, and now there are so many new ones.Moreover, the county magistrate also issued a notice that monks should not be allowed to gather together.But Farong said to everyone:
Dear fellow Taoists, although the mountain temple is depressed, it is enough to protect you.No matter whether there is or not, it cannot last forever. This is the principle of Buddhism.Don’t want to escape because of the government’s control, and go back to the temple.If you want to escape, where can you escape?Everyone should practice their own business with peace of mind and share the responsibility of blessings and misfortunes.Various desires are the root of the suffering of life. If you keep chasing people, you will still have the suffering of hell in the next life.If our hearts cannot be separated from the secular enlightenment and always think about the sufferings of the world, we are not practicing the Dharma to transcend, but wanting to escape, this is hindered by the world.This is a taboo in our practice of Taoism!Now we should eradicate it immediately and focus on practicing the Dharma.
After hearing this, everyone was very ashamed and no longer wanted to escape.
There are so many monks in the mountains, so naturally they need a lot of food. Farong personally went to Danyang to advertise the secular world.When everyone heard that there was shortage of food in the mountains, they saved food and sent it to the mountains.Farong personally carried the food with everyone, carrying one stone and eight dou of stone at a time, and then sent it to carry it again.I come and go many times a day without any fatigue.After a hundred days of transportation, the temple had sufficient food and the monks were at ease to study the Dharma.Those who did not listen to advice ran down the mountain, were caught by the government, and were tortured.
Xianqing (Emperor Gaozong of Tang Dynasty )In the first year, Sikong Xiao Yuanshan once again invited Farong to Jianchu Temple to preach the Dharma.Farong said to the monks:
From now on, there will be no meeting again. There will be separation and harmony, which is natural.
After Farong said goodbye to the monks, he walked out of the mountain gate.At this time, the beasts wailed, and kept wailing all day long.The spring water and sand surged up in the mountains, blocking the spring.The big sycamore tree in front of the house suddenly withered when it was lush.
Not far from Jianchu Temple, there is a temple where there is a Master Geng in the temple. Chen Shi is a famous monk. He is over 80 years old and is the leader of the monks in Jinling. He presided over many rituals.Farong visited him when he was in Youqi Temple.Farong told Master Gen that he had doubts:
The Buddha in the sutra preaches, and those who listen to the Dharma can realize the truth through their words, without having to analyze the sentences and guess the content in the sutras and treatises.I think of great masters like you who have obtained the true teachings of the Buddha.But I have never heard of the True Word.My own head is not open and it is blocked and blocked so I cannot realize the truth.In a state of ignorance, I feel very frightened and long for advice.I hope you can give me some advice and make me no longer confused. I am willing to listen to your teachings.
Master Gen pondered for a long time before saying:
When I was in the Chen Dynasty, I also met a Zen master who was respected by all the kings, princes and ministers. He took to the lectern to preach and preached the Dharma, just like you.My talent is mediocre, how can I get the teachings of Master Gao?
The two separated without any speculation.Master Gen did not trust Fa Rong Taoism at that time, so he refused.
When Farong came to Jianchu Temple for the second time, he still practiced diligently.At this time, Farong's reputation had spread all over the world.Master Gen changed his original view and respected Farong's virtues very much, so he went to find Farong with a cane.When I arrived at Jianchu Temple, a Zen master named Deshan was very happy to see Master Gen coming from afar.The two talked for a while.Master Gen said:
I came here because of Farong.
Zen Master Deshan and Farong lived in the same temple, and initially did not value his Taoism.After Master Jinggen said this, he wanted to see the Dharma of Farong, so they invited Farong to talk about the Buddhist principles.Farong sits upright and speaks loudly.As soon as Farong opened his mouth, he saw three hundred pairs of neat rhymes, without any false decor.The two great masters praised each other and personally presided over the Dharma seat in the temple for Farong.
Farong has compassion, is kind to others, and has a broad mind.He never gets enemies with others, nor remembers other people's faults.
There was a monk who heard someone slandering Farong and scolding Farong for being a human being.He told Farong about this.But Farong blamed him and said:
The curses of the past are like the wind, and they disappear as soon as they blow, and the exit disappears.How can you tell me this false talk?All non-attachment and non-attachment are our original wishes.Only in this way can we endure the sword safely.
Someone once ascended the throne and insulted him sternly, and some slandered him in public. He treated him as an insult. He did not feel angry or resentful at all. Instead, he smiled and looked kind. Those who came to insulted him were full of ugly things.
Farong died in Jianchu Temple in the second year of Xianqing.The Taoist and common people are sad for it.Later, he was buried in Jilong Mountain. The roof of the banner floated, and the sadness of the silence and the clouds were alarmed.More than 10,000 people went to the mourning.
