Xuefeng Yicun
Japanese pronunciation: Seppo Gison
Mt. Xuefeng (Snow Peak) Righteous Existence
| born: 822 died: 908 86 years place: China |
| Chan master: Deshan (J. Tokusan) Chan disciples: Yunmen (J. Ummon), Changqing (J. Chokei), Gushan, Cuiyan Lingcan (J. Suigan Reisan), Jingqing (J. Kyosei), Xuansha (J. Gensha), Taiyuan, Baofu (J. Hofuku), ... |
| stories: Blue Cliff Record, Case 5, Xuefeng's Grain of Rice Case 51, What is This? Osho Live Zen, ch. 12, This, This, A Thousand Times This: The Very Essence of Zen, ch. 2, ch. 12 One Seed Makes the Whole Earth Green, ch. 2, ch. 3 Zen: The Solitary Bird, Cuckoo of the Forest, ch. 5, ch. 8, ch. 11 And the Flowers Showered, ch. 9 The Great Zen Master Ta Hui, ch. 5, ch. 32 |
Xuefeng is a very well known Zen master, who built his
temple on Xianggu, Elephant Bone Mountain, located
near modern Fuzhou, Fujian, China. The temple still
exists today. His mountain name of Xuefeng (Snow Peak)
is a smaller area of that mountain range where he
resided and taught.
temple on Xianggu, Elephant Bone Mountain, located
near modern Fuzhou, Fujian, China. The temple still
exists today. His mountain name of Xuefeng (Snow Peak)
is a smaller area of that mountain range where he
resided and taught.
aka: Hsueh Feng (old W.G.)
When Xuefeng was living in his hermitage, two monks came to pay their respects. As Xuefeng saw them coming he pushed open the gate and, presenting himself before them, said, "What is this?"
Xuefeng lowered his head and returned to his cottage. Later, the monks came to Yantou, who said, "Where are you from?" The monks answered, "We have come from south of the Lingnan mountains." Yantou said, "Have you ever been to see Xuefeng?" The monks said, "Yes, we have been to him." Yantou said, "What did he say to you?" The monks related the whole story. Yantou said, "Alas! I regret that I did not tell him the last word when I was with him. If I had done so, no one in the whole world could have pretended to outdo him." At the end of the summer session, the monks repeated the story and asked Yantou for his instruction. Yantou said, "Why didn't you ask earlier?" The monks said, "We have had a hard time struggling with this topic." Yantou said, "Xuefeng came to life in the same way that I did, but he does not die in the same way that I do. If you want to know the last word, I'll tell you simply – This! This!" Maneesha, I am immensely grateful that you have reminded me of Xuefeng. I have always wanted to bring Xuefeng to you because he is one of the most precious buddhas who has walked on the earth. He was unique in his own way; in his teaching, words were not important but only thisness, the utter silence of existence. The chattering of the birds are the only holy scriptures in the world. And the commentaries of the bamboos are really honest, sincere and to the point... --Osho This. This. A Thousand Times This: The Very Essence of Zen, ch. 2 |
| oshobob The Living Workshop |
| Zen Masters |
 |
 |
 |
| Note: In his original English talks, Osho used the Japanese pronunciations of the Chinese names used in these stories, to a large extent. In his books the names were romanized using Japanese romaji. In the instances where Osho used the original Chinese names, they were romanized in the books using the old Wade-Giles system, now seen very infrequently in world wide usage. The stories shown on this website will attempt to revert to the more accurate original Chinese identification, using modern Chinese pinyin romanization, if the people and places are Chinese. If they are Japanese, then Japanese romaji will be retained. |
Chinese simplified: 雪峰义存