People mostly learn about Buddhist characters from dramas and various literary works, such as the sudden enlightenment of Shakyamuni under the Bodhi tree, the Tang Xuanzang who traveled thousands of mountains and rivers to the West to seek the true scriptures, and the Bodhidharma

Most people learn about Buddhist characters from dramas and various literary works, such as The sudden enlightenment of Shakyamuni under the Bodhi tree, Tang Xuanzang , , , , Bodhidharma , which is often mentioned in novels, are all relatively famous characters. Although Master Xuanjue is not as familiar as the previous few, he is a character that must be mentioned in the history of Chinese Buddhist .

When I was a child, I was often asked about my ideals when I grew up. More than half of the boys were policemen, and half of the girls were teachers. Xuanjue had already clarified his lifelong pursuit when he was a child.

In the Tang Dynasty 665, the Dai family in Yongjia, Wenzhou gave birth to a baby boy and named it Dai Mingdao. The Dai family has a good business operation and a very large-scale transaction, which is equivalent to a wealthy man. A new male child from a wealthy family is added, and the family is well-off, so he is very fond of him.

From outsiders, children like Dai's family who come from piles of gold and jade wealthy families will have no worries about food and clothing for the rest of their lives and must be a playboy. While children of the same age were still having fun, Master Xuanjue had already read Buddhist scriptures and had already highlighted his high understanding of Buddhism and when he was a child.

html When he was 18 years old, Master Xuanjue became a monk at Longxing Temple in Wenzhou.

The method of samadhi , as the name suggests, is divided into two sides of samadhi and observing. In the teachings of Tiantai Sect, the waves that arise from the mind can be calmed by samadhi, and through meditation, you can understand wisdom, eliminate doubts and resolve doubts, and see through the essence.

After becoming a monk, he studied Buddhism under the seat of Zen Master Huiwei and was diligent in studying the Tiantai Sect's method of meditation and contemplation as an important subject to diligent Buddhist practice.

The morning mist and gauze are rising with smoke, the evening rain is stroking insects, roaring, from morning to night, Master Xuanjue insists on studying the Dharma alone every day, and never being lazy day after day.

After practicing the method of meditation and contemplation, the Buddhist code also studied step by step, and the understanding of Buddhism gradually became clear. However, The mountains are high and the clouds are not yet level, and the water is as deep as the sea and there is boundary. . Master Xuanjue's pursuit of Buddhism is not only with this, but with a higher and wider realm as his pursuit.

The so-called wisdom knows oneself, Master Xuanjue knows his shortcomings and seeks change from time to time.

He and other monks traveled to the mountains and rivers and trampled on the seas, Seeking the origin of all things in nature ; entering the world to realize it, feeling the wonder of fireworks in the world , and he also improved himself from the Buddhist teachings in the book combined with the profound meaning of Buddhism discovered during travel.

In addition to seeking the truth in the natural world, he will also visit Buddhist powers and exchange experiences.

The most famous one is his four questions and four answers with Sixth Patriarch Huineng.

Master Huineng, whose common surname is Lu, is an important figure in the history of Chinese Buddhism. After inheriting Master Hongren's Buddhist philosophy, he established his own sect and made outstanding contributions to the spread of Buddhism in the frontiers and abroad. Master Huineng was well-known and was invited by Emperor Wuzhou to spread the law with great gifts. However, Master Huineng refused because of illness, and later asked again. However, Emperor Wu of Zhou had no choice but to ask Master Huineng's cassock to provide.

Zen Master Xuance is a student of Master Huineng. Once he walked to Longxing Temple, he heard that someone was practicing here and had a deep understanding of Buddhism. It was Master Xuanjue, so he came to pay a visit.

After meeting, the two talked about Buddhism and Zen, discussed the scriptures and reviewed the scriptures and talked happily. Zen Master Xuan Ce was very familiar with Xuan Jue’s Buddhist understanding. The Dharma Zen he had to be very consistent with the master’s philosophy. He asked how he achieved such a mysterious attainment. Master Xuan Jue replied: “I have thoughts from many Zen masters to preach, and I also realized the mind method from the Vimalakirti Sutra, but it cannot be confirmed. I have touched the true meaning of the great way.”

Zen Master Xuan Ce replied: “Before the Buddha appeared, he relied on his own insights; after he appeared, those who learned without a teacher were not born due to cause and condition.” He also said: “If you want to know where you are, you need to find a powerful person to prove it.” Therefore, the Sixth Patriarch Huineng recommended to Master Xuan Jue and wanted to go to Caoxi with him.

Soon, the two went to Caoxi together.

First question

Waiting to meet the Sixth Patriarch, Master Xuanjue said nothing, and stopped after walking a few times. The Sixth Patriarch asked: "Don't monks know etiquette? When you see someone better than you, you should bow to him. Why not only do you not worship him? You are also standing there in vain, being so arrogant."

Master Xuanjue returned: "It's time to be a life or death. Why should you focus on these small things?"

Second question

Sixth Patriarch asked again: "Since you are so important to see life and death, why don't you abandon your obsession with life and death, and you don't have to be afraid of death when you live freely. Then since you have seen through it, is there any meaning to be fast or slow time?"

Master Xuanjue returned without hesitation: "You have seen through life and death, and the realm has reached it." At that step, the speed of time doesn't matter."

Third question

As soon as the words fell, Master Xuanjue turned around and left. The Sixth Patriarch saw that he was about to leave after saying a few words, and he really had no intention of making a statement, so he called him out and was surprised: "Why are you going to leave so quickly? Are you in a hurry to go back?"

Master Xuanjue turned around and said, "One of my foot has not yet taken off, how can it mean that I am in a hurry to go back? This is Master, you are talking nonsense. "

Sixth Patriarch nodded and affirmed Master Xuanjue's statement: "If you understand that there is no thought, then there is no meaning of the disappearance of the thought. With meaning, it is not without thoughts, but deliberately climbing."

Question 4

Sixth Patriarch asked: "Who will tell? Do you have no thoughts or can you climb? "

Master Xuanjue replied slowly: "What is distinguished is your original heart, it is not caused by obsession, but thoughts or can you climb. "

Finally, Master Xuanjue's answer was in line with the wishes of the Sixth Patriarch and was praised. This is a kind of high-level verification of Buddhism.

The dialogue between the two Buddhist masters is also a confrontation between the wisdom and understanding of Buddhism. What ultimately presents the most classic four questions and four answers in Buddhism.

After this, this conversation was like a beacon, illuminating Master Xuanjue’s wisdom and sweeping away the haze of previous understanding of Buddhism. At the same time, he also observes, reflects on himself, encourages himself, and encourages him, and continues to move forward in improving his Buddhist attainments.

Perhaps influenced by the Sixth Patriarch, Master Xuanjue also promoted his Buddhist concept to all classes, which has far-reaching significance for the promotion of Buddhism.

has left many classics, including "Song of Enlightenment" and "Yongjia Zen Collection" that have been widely circulated in the long river of history.

In 713 AD, Master Xuanjue sat in the familiar Longxing Temple villa. Someone saw that when he sat in the sky, a strange phenomenon suddenly appeared in the sky, and 1,000 geese were hovering in the air for a long time and reluctant to leave. Perhaps it was these natural elves protecting this Buddhist master to return to the Western Paradise, leaving behind the legend of Master Xuanjue's life.