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久默大音 Jiumo Dayin (17th-18th c.)

七十一世久默大音禪師
久默大音 Jiumo Dayin (Long Silence, Loud Voice), Patriarch of the Seventy-first Generation
佛祖道影白話解 Lives of the Patriarchs
宣公上人講於金山寺一九八五年七月一九日 Commentary by the Venerable Hua at Gold Mountain Monastery San Francisco July 19, 1985 (宣化 Xuanhua, 1918-1995)
Translated into English by Bhikshuni Jin Jing
金剛 菩提海 Vajra Bodhi Sea (VBS): A Monthly Journal of Orthodox Buddhism, Nos. 481-482.

http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/481/vbs481p012.pdf

The Dhyana Master was the son of Yao from Jiahe, Yuxi. Attending sutra lectures everywhere, he was erudite and well-versed in sutras, books, and records. The Master went to pay respects to the elders at Yunmen and Tiantong and heard that the Ven. Reibai lived at the Iron Wall. He left his dwelling and went to visit him. Reibai was fixing his shed in the countryside and ordered the Master to split the bamboo. The Master asked, “ How do I start?” Reibai replied, “Split it into thin strips.” The Master seemed to understand something suddenly. Later, he was greatly awakened upon reflecting on the causes and conditions for going on the alms round. He then visited Reibai at Bianshan again. Shan (Reibai) inquired, “How is ‘the' time?” The Master said, “Ask the attendant to light the lamp.” Shan relied. “What happens after the lamp is lit?” The Master said, “It shines through the heaven and the earth.” Shan relied, “If so, the light in the Dharma Realms will disappear.” The Master said, “The Venerable One is hard to deceive.” Shan certified the Master, who became the second generation Dharma heir of Bianshan. He manifested stillness at Beiwou of Bianshan.

Commentary:

The seventy-first generational Patriarch, Dhyana Master Jiumo, Dayin (Long Silence, Loud Voice). Long silence indicates that he was silent for a long time. Because he kept silence for too long, whenever he spoke, he was loud. Therefore, he was also named “Dhyana Master Loud Voice,” which came from being silent for a long time. If he didn't keep silence for an extended period of time, his voice would not be loud. Because he doesn't talk, when he had to speak, he really spoke loudly, not even fearing to be beheaded.

The Dhyana Master was the son of Yao from Jiahe, Yuxi. This Dhyana Master came from Jiahe, Yuxi. His lay surname was Yao. Attending sutra lectures everywhere: If there were any sutra lectures, he would attend and be an “old cultivator” and “old-timer of Chan.” What does “old-timer of Chan” mean? It means it is fine you attend the lectures and it is also fine if you don't. If you stand there and listen, it is all right. Whether you fall asleep or are awake, it is all fine. This type of person is called an “old-timer of Chan” and is very casual and doesn't follow the rules. So, you see. He's been to many places. He was erudite and well-versed in sutras, books and records. He read many books such as the The books of the Three Emperors and the Five Rulers, Eight Laws and Nine Fields [Note: All these are classics of the sages and the kings. In general, they refer to classics, books, and records.] He pretty much understood them all.

The Master went to pay respects to the elders at Yunmen and Tiantong. He also went to visit Yunmen (Cloud Gate) and Tiantong Monastery. He visited all the good wise spiritual teachers of the time. And he heard that the Ven. Reibai lived at the Iron Wall. He left his dwelling and went to visit him. Reibai was fixing his shed in the countryside. Perhaps the shed leaked when it rained. Reibai ordered the Master to split the bamboo. He said to him, “Go and split the bamboo.” The Master asked, “ How do I start?” How do I do it? Reibai replied, “Split it into thin strips.” Just use the ax or lever to chop the bamboo, just split it so it can be used to build the hut. The Master seemed to understand something suddenly. When Reibai said so, the Master understood something: “Oh, go and chop bamboo!”

Later, he was greatly awakened upon reflecting on the causes and conditions for going on the alms round. What are the causes and conditions of the alms round? In short, he probably thought: “Why go on alms round? Oh, it is because if this bowl is filled, the stomach will stop growling and no longer be starved.” Thus, he was suddenly enlightened. Therefore, you must know what the function of the alms round is. It is to cure the sickness of hunger. His case was probably like this. Whether it is true or not, don't pay too much attention to it. In brief, if you want to become enlightened, it's the same principle. There is no fixed dharma. It could be the causes and conditions of going on the alms round, the causes and conditions of eating food, of wearing clothes, or of sleeping. In a word, all these are causes and conditions and if you have insight into them, it's great enlightenment. If you really understand everything about clothing, food, housing, and travel, you are enlightened. Therefore, people in the ancient times would investigate these Chan topics: Who is eating? Who is wearing clothes? Who is sleeping? Who is mindful of the Buddha? Who is talking? Who is breathing? They inquire into these topics. After they truly understand their own inquiry, they become awakened. Therefore, this is precisely what is meant by the causes and conditions of going on alms round. After he was enlightened, he then visited Reibai at Bianshan again. He went and drew near Ven. Reibai again. [Translator's Note: Since Reibai lived at Bian Mountain (Bianshan), he was also known as Reibai Bianshan. From this section on, Reibai is referred to as Shan.]

Shan (Reibai) inquired, “How is the time?” What is meant by “the time”? What time is that? This is the most crucial point. Share some of your opinions. Let me tell you, it refers to the evening when it is dark. Ven. Bianshan noticed that when Dhyana Master Dayin went to visit him, it happened to be in the evening. Therefore, he didn't mention anything about the evening. He merely asked, “How is the time?”

http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/482/vbs482p013.pdf