Jap, Tanshu Ryuzan
Tanzhou Longshan
born:  c. 740
died:  c. 830

place:  China
stories:

Osho:
Zen: The Diamond Thunderbolt, ch. 13
Chan master:  Mazu (J. Baso)
Chan disciples:
Tanzhou (city of old China)   Dragon Mountain
aka:  Yinshan (Hidden Mountain);
  Longshan Heshang
      oshobob  The Living Workshop                                            
                                                    Zen Masters
Once, when Tozan was traveling with another
monk, they saw a vegetable leaf floating down a
valley stream. Tozan said, "If there were no-one
in the deep mountains, how could there be a
vegetable leaf here? If we go upstream we might
find a wayfarer staying there."

Making their way through the brush and going
several miles up the valley, they suddenly saw
the strange-looking, emaciated figure of a man.
It was Master Ryuzan. His name meant "Dragon
Mountain," and he was also known as Yinshan,
meaning, "hidden in the mountains." Tozan and
the other monk put down their bundles and
greeted Ryuzan.

Ryuzan then said, "There is no road on this
mountain – how did you get here?"

Tozan said, "Leaving aside the fact that there is
no road, where did you enter?"

Ryuzan said, "I didn't come by clouds or water."

Tozan then asked, "How long have you been
living on this mountain?"

Ryuzan said, "The passing of seasons and years
cannot reach it."

Tozan asked, "Were you here first, or was the
mountain here first?"

Ryuzan answered, "I do not know."

Tozan said, "Why not?"

Ryuzan said, "I don't come from celestial or
human realms."

Tozan said, "What truth have you realized that
you come to dwell here on this mountain?"

Ryuzan said, "I saw two clay bulls fighting, go
into the ocean, and up till now have no news of
them."

For the first time, Tozan bowed with deep
respect for Ryuzan.

Then he asked Ryuzan, "What is the guest
within the host?"

Ryuzan said, "The blue mountain is covered by
white clouds."

Tozan asked, "What is the host within the host?"

Ryuzan answered, "He never goes out of the
door."

Tozan then asked, "How far apart are host and
guest?"

Ryuzan said, "Waves on a river."

Tozan then asked, "When guest and host meet,
what is said?"

Ryuzan said, "The pure breeze sweeps the white
moon."

Tozan took his leave and departed.


...Now these are great dialogues; they are no
more talking about ordinary roads. Ryuzan's
question is not concerned with the ordinary road,
but it appears on the surface as if he is asking,
"There is no road on this mountain – how did you
get here?"

Tozan himself was a master. Anyone else in his
place would have been a failure; he would not
have understood the meaning that there is a
place in our being which no road leads to – but
still you can reach there, without any vehicle,
without any road, without any guide, without any
map.

There is a point in our being which we can reach
because we are there already – we don't have to
come. We just have to withdraw our thoughts and
imaginations, to drop all that is false, and just
remain together in the deep solitude...

                                               --Osho
         Zen: The Diamond Thunderbolt, ch. 13