A monk said to Mazu, "What is the meaning of Bodhidharma's coming from the West? Mazu replied, "At this moment, what do you mean by 'meaning'?" Again the monk asked the question, and Mazu struck him, saying, "If I didn't strike you, people would laugh at me." |
Zen Master Mazu Daoyi was one of the most famous and creative Chan masters in its history. He was born in Sichuan Province in the small village of Shifang, just north of Chengdu. He lived and studied with Nanyue who had his temple, Fuyan Temple on Hengshan mountain in Hunan Province. Just down the road on this same mountain is the Nantai Temple, where Mazu's contemporary, Shitou (Sekito, J.) had his "stonehead" location. After leaving Nanyue, Mazu traveled east to Jiangxi Province where he lived, taught, and died. His stupa is located in Baofeng Temple. |



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