Nanyue Huairang
Jap., Nangaku Ejo
South Mountain    Wisdom Offer
born:  677
died:  744

place:  China
Chan master:  Huineng (J., Eno)
Chan disciples:  Mazu (J. Baso), Qingyuan (J.
Seigen), ...
Surname: Du
posthumous name: Dahui (Great Wisdom)

Nanyue is the name of the mountain area on
Hengshan mountain range in Hunan Province,
where this master lived and taught for over 30
years. Mazu and Shitou (J. Sekito) also studied
here--basically all Zen lineage comes out of these
masters. You can see some photos at Fuyan Zen
Temple, with Nanyue's stupa.
stories:

Osho
Zen: The Quantum Leap From Mind to No-mind, ch.
5

Ma Tzu: The Empty Mirror, ch. 1, ch. 2, ch. 3

God is Dead: Now Zen is the Only Living Truth, ch. 4
            oshobob  The Living Workshop                                         
                                                       Zen Masters


When Sekito received the precepts, his master,
Seigen, asked him, "Now you have received the
precepts, you want to learn the Vinaya, don't you?"

Sekito replied, "There's no need to learn the
Vinaya."

Seigen asked, "Then, you want to read the book of
Sheela?"

Sekito replied, "There's no need to read the book of
Sheela."

Seigen asked, "Can you deliver a letter to Nangaku
Osho?"

Sekito said, "Certainly."

Seigen said, "Go now, and come back quickly. If
you come back even a little late, you will miss me. If
you miss me, you cannot get the big hatchet under
my chair."

Soon Sekito reached Nangaku. Before handing
over the letter, Sekito made a bow and asked,
"Osho, when one neither follows the old saints nor
expresses one's innermost soul, what will one do?"

Nangaku said, "Your question is too arrogant. Why
don't you ask modestly?"

To which Sekito replied, "Then it would be better to
sink into hell eternally and not ever hope for the
liberation that the old saints know."

Sekito, finding that he and Nangaku were not
attuned to each other, soon left for Seigen without
giving Nangaku the letter. On his arrival, Seigen
asked, "Did they entrust something to you?"

Sekito said, "They didn't entrust anything to me."

Seigen said, "But there must have been a reply."

Sekito said, "If they don't entrust anything, there is
no reply." Then he said, "When I was leaving here,
you added that I should come back soon to receive
the big hatchet under the chair. Now I have come
back, please give me the big hatchet."

Seigen was silent.

Sekito bowed down and retired.


The silence of Seigen was his acceptance of Sekito,
his courage. He knew that the letter had not been
delivered, that there had not been any reply,
although Sekito had not mentioned the letter. Sekito
simply said, "They did not entrust anything to me, so
how can there be any reply?"

Seigen saw the man, that he has the quality and
deserves to be enlightened. His silence was his
hatchet. He was saying, "When you come I am going
to cut your head with a hatchet."

And now he reminded him, "Now I have come back,
please give me the big hatchet”. Cut my head. Do
whatsoever you want to do, I am ready.

Seigen was silent. In that deep silence is the
transfer, the transmission of the lamp. It is not a
question of language, it is a question of a transfer of
energy. Just simply in that silence the flame jumped
from Seigen to Sekito...

                                              --Osho
God is Dead, Now Zen is the Only Living Truth, ch. 2