Xuefeng Yicun
Jap., Seppo Gison
Mt. Xuefeng (Snow Mountain)    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.
aka:  Hsueh Feng (old W.G.)
When Seppo was living in his hermitage, two
monks came to pay their respects. As Seppo saw
them coming he pushed open the gate and,
presenting himself before them, said, "What is
this?"

The monks also said, "What is this?"

Seppo lowered his head and returned to his
cottage.


Later, the monks came to Ganto, who said,
"Where are you from?"

The monks answered, "We have come from south
of the Nanrei mountains."

Ganto said, "Have you ever been to see Seppo?"

The monks said, "Yes, we have been to him."

Ganto said, "What did he say to you?"

The monks related the whole story.
Ganto 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 Ganto for his
instruction.
Ganto said, "Why didn't you ask earlier?"

The monks said, "We have had a hard time
struggling with this topic."

Ganto said, "Seppo 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 Seppo. I have always wanted to
bring Seppo 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