From The True Dharma Eye: Zen Master Dogen's Three Hundred Koans.

Main Case

Changsha once had Sansheng in his assembly. Sansheng requested Senior Monastic Shen to ask Changsha, "After Nanquan passed away, where did he go?"^1

Changsha said, "When Shitou was a novice, he studied with the Sixth Ancestor [Dajian Huineng]."^2

Shen said, "Master, I am not asking you about Shitou studying with the Sixth Ancestor. I am asking, after Nanquan passed away, where did he go?"^3

Changsha said, "I want Sansheng to contemplate this."^4

Shen said, "Master, even if you have a one-thousand-foot-tall cold pine, you don't have a stone sprout coming out of the rock."^5

Changsha remained silent.^6

Shen said, "Thank you for your instruction."^7

Changsha was still silent.^8

Shen told Sensheng what Changsha said.

Sansheng said, "If this is true, he excels Linji by seven steps.^9 However, wait till I test him tomorrow." The next day he went up to the abbot's room and said, "Master, your response yesterday was unprecedented."^10

Changsha did not answer.^11

Sansheng said, "I have doubts about this fellow."

Commentary

After receiving Linji's dharma and after the death of his teacher, Sansheng travelled about encountering various matters to polish his understanding. While visiting Changsha he asks, "After Nanquan passed away, where did he go?" Changsha says, "When Shitou was a novice, he studied with the Sixth Ancestor." It should be understood at the outset that the old master is not ignoring the question or changing the subject. He is directly pointing. This is why he says, "I want Sansheng to contemplate this." But, I ask you, pointing to what> Monsatic Shen does not understand and tries to press it further, but Changsha just remains silent.

When Sansheng hears of this, he seems impressed but wants to test it further. The next day Sansheng goes to see him. After Sansheng extols the master's virtues, Changsha still remains silent. Tell me, what is Changsha's meaning? When Sansheng says, "I have doubts about this fellow," is he approving or disapproving the old master?

Master Doushuai Congyue said, "If you are free from life and death, you know where you will go. When the four elements decompose, where do you go?" I ask you, where do you go?

Capping Verse

In a single consciousness, the whole of eternity;

the whole of eternity, this very moment.

To see into this moment is to realize

no coming, no going, no abiding.

Notes

1. There are many people who have doubts about this matter.

2. Now, here is a hard cold fact that almost anyone can bite into.

3. Even the yellow-faced old Buddha, in forty-seven years of teaching, did not answer this question.

4. Everyone should contemplate this matter.

5. I'm afraid that he has misunderstood the old teacher.

6. Don't say that this is not communicating something. What is he saying?

7. When at a loss, just bow and withdraw.

8. Since the monastic doesn't get it, there is nothing more to say.

9. Actually, it doesn't come down on either side.

10. Bah!

11. Why doesn't he just bring his stick down across the monastic's back?