CUHK Series:Snow in August

by Xingjian Gao

  [The monks look at one another, afraid to answer the question. Shenhui, a young apprentice monk, stands up.

  Discipline Teacher:

  Young apprentice, what do you think you are doing?

  Shenhui:

  I can’t stand sitting down any more. My legs are numb.

  Discipline Teacher:

  Then go away and do your work. Don’t cause trouble here!

  Huineng:

  Young people cannot sit still. Let him stand up. My way resides in the minds of everybody, but you have not been able to understand your mind and see your own nature. Let me hear what you have to say. (Smiles.) This way of mine has no rules.

  Shenhui:

  Teacher, teacher, I have to pee!

  Discipline Teacher:

  Watch what you’re doing! You’ll be punished for this!

  Huineng:

  If you don’t let the kid go he may burst. Go ahead, go.

  [Exit Shenhui running. All are relieved and break out in laughter.

  Discipline Teacher:

  Quiet! Quiet! The lecture is in session! Be serious!

  [Monks stop laughing out of fear.

  Huineng:

  It’s serious, but it’s also not serious. Mental state comes from the mind. If the mind is free, then it will be purified and beget wisdom.

  (“Small drum” drum beat, imitating the clip clop of a running horse.)

  Discipline Teacher:

  What’s the matter?

  (Enter messenger from the prefecture government hurriedly, holding a horsewhip.)

  Messenger:

  His Excellency Prefect Wei Ju wishes to deliver this letter to the Grand Master Yinzong, Abbot of Dharma Nature Temple!

  Yinzong:

  (Rises to receive the letter. Finishes reading.)

  Prefect Wei, the officers at the prefecture government and scholars from the four corners of the earth have learned that Master Huineng, true successor to the Buddha, has graced the county of Nanhai with his presence. Thereby an invitation has been extended to the Master to make accessible to all the door to the truth of the Dharma, to choose an auspicious hour and date to lecture on the Maha Prajnaparamita Sutra of the Mahayana School. On the same day let there be a magnificent ceremony, and let the pulpit be opened to receive all believers, encompassing monks or laymen, so that all the people will be delivered from their sufferings! The messenger is awaiting your reply by his horse. What, may I ask, is the Master’s wish?

  Huineng:

  It is my destiny that has brought me here. Let us choose a day so that we can combine the two lectures into one.

  Yinzong:

  Messenger, please convey the Master’s wish to Prefect Wei.

  [Exit Messenger. “Small drum” drum beat. Clip clop sound fades.

  Huineng:

  Let’s call it a day. (Stands up.)

  Yinzong:

  Let us all retire to our rooms to ponder on the question the Master has just asked. In this way his effort will not have been wasted and we will all benefit from his enlightening lecture.

  [The monks get up and look at one another. Exit. Enter Shenhui.

  Shenhui:

  What’s this? It’s all done? But I only went to pee! What did the monk talk about? What kind of Dharma is this?

  Discipline Teacher:

  What do you think?

  Shenhui:

  I knew it. If it wasn’t the same old Buddha in the sutra, the stuff we’ve been chanting day in, day out?

  Discipline Teacher:

  You garbage mouth! Hold your tongue! You’ve violated the rules of the temple. Give him a few smacks on the bottom! Master Huineng, do not spoil him!

  Huineng:

  (Yells.)

  I’ve told you clearly that the Dharma has no name. How did you come up with a name?

  Shenhui:

  The monk asked me, so I had to give it a name. If he hadn’t asked about it, then it wouldn’t have to have a name.

  Huineng:

  (Hits Shenhui with a club.)

  Let me give you a thump with my club! Did you feel the pain?

  Shenhui:

  Yes and no.

  Huineng:

  Where was the pain?

  Shenhui:

  My bottom.

  Huineng:

  Where was there no pain?

  Shenhui:

  The club.

  Yinzong:

  Do not bother the Master any longer. Go! Go!

  Huineng:

  What’s his name, this naughty little kid?

  Yinzong:

  His name is Shenhui. He has come here to learn the sutra and the disciplines. Let me ask him to leave the temple then.

  Huineng:

  Let him stay. My feet are not well. Keep him by my side to look after me.

  Yinzong:

  Holiness, where would you like to take up your residence?

  Huineng:

  This temple is right next to the city centre. Whatever happens here, the officials will surely know about it. If I stay, the temple will lose its peace and quiet. I’m used to living in the mountains, so I think I’d better return there.

  Yinzong:

  Does the Master have any specific place to go? I’ll have to report to the Prefect on your whereabouts.

  Huineng:

  After the Dharma gathering, I’ll likely go back to the mountains in Caoxi in Shao Prefecture. I stayed there for some time before, it seems that I still need to be there to complete my destiny with the place.

  [Exit both. The faint ringing of a bell can be heard coming from backstage. Silhouette of the back of Boundless Treasure appears.

  Enter Singsong Girl amid music, singing from the orchestra pit downstage.

  Singsong Girl:

  (Sings.)

  A beautiful body,

  A load of memories,

  A story hidden in the bottom of the heart,

  Only to recall but not to tell.

  Boundless Treasure is you,

  Boundless Treasure is me.

  Walking, walking, keep on walking,

  Who can understand the profound meaning?

  [Huineng is seen in the pulpit wearing the Dharma robe. Silhouette of Boundless Treasure disappears. Enter Crowd.

  Huineng:

  (Lectures.)

  Learned men and women!

  All humans inherently possess the wisdom of Bodhi Prajna, but due to the delusions in their minds, they fail to achieve enlightenment by themselves.

  As for my way to enlightenment, its aim is no thought, its essence is no form, and its foundation no attachment.

  What do we mean by no form? It is that when you are in the world of forms, you are not attached to any form.

  What do we mean by no thought? No thought means you are not absorbed by any thoughts when you are thinking.

  And what do we mean by no attachment? No attachment is in the self-nature of all humans.

  Our thoughts should not have any attachments. If all our thoughts, past, present and future, are linked together without any interruption, then the Dharmakaya, the essence body, will be able to detach itself from the Rupakaya, the physical body.

  When we are engaged in thinking, we should not be attached to anything. Even if only one thought is attached, all the others will be attached. This is known as bondage. If we can be detached from all thoughts, then we will not be burdened by any bondage.

  Singsong Girl:

  (Loudly.)

  This is the mystery of a Buddhist nun who is herself a woman of mystery. Only a woman can solve it. But women, every single one of them, all suffer from various attachments of their own; they can’t free themselves to solve the mystery. Then how can a monk, who is not a woman, be free to solve it?

  (Sings.)

  Sadness in the heart of love,

  Entangling yet so refined;

  Like a mist or a cloud,

  It lingers and circles,

  To puzzle and perplex;

  And like
a drizzle in the fog,

  It can’t be pushed away,

  It can’t be shoved along.

  But can it ever be cut off?

  Huineng:

  Learned audience!

  Maha Prajnaparamita are Sanskrit words. In the language of our nation they mean “great wisdom on the other shore.” When one chooses to tread the path of enlighten-ment, one’s Dharma body is the same as that of the Buddha.

  Maha is “great.” The mind’s capacity is great, as great as that of the void. It encompasses the sun, the moon, the stars, the great earth, the mountains and rivers, all the myriad trees and plants, the good and the bad people, the good and the bad laws, and Heaven and Hell. They are all included in the void of “Maha.”

  Human nature is the same; it is a void. All truths are but self-nature, which is revealed in humans as well as non-humans. One should not be attached to any truth, be it meritorious or otherwise. Earth, water, fire and air are the four Mahabhutas, or the four elements. They are but illusions and therefore belong to the void. The deluded only recite the Dharma with their mouths, the enlightened practice it with their heart!

  Crowd:

  (Sing.)

  For great wisdom,

  To the other shore!

  The four Mahabhutas are illusions,

  All is empty, all is void!

  Singsong Girl:

  (Loudly.)

  Emptiness indeed! A woman, what will she be doing going to the other shore?

  (Sings.)

  The myriad poses and alluring looks,

  The unceasing wonderment,

  The twists and turns,

  The endless changes and mutations,

  The pains inflicted on women,

  How can a man understand? (Exit.)

  Huineng:

  Learned audience, please listen carefully!

  Troubles are the same as enlightenment. A deluded first thought, which clings to attachment, makes one an ordinary man; an enlightened second thought, which frees one from attachment, makes one a Buddha.

  Learned audience!

  The wisdom of Maha Prajnaparamita is the most exalted, the highest, and the foremost. It is not attached to anything, not to the past, the present or the future, but all the Buddhas of the past, the present, and the future have attained and will attain their Buddhahood through its teachings. This great wisdom will guide us to the other shore and break up the troubles and defilements in the five Skandhas! Those who understand this Dharma will be free from thoughts, free from memories, and free from attachments. In this way, one is able to make use of wisdom to observe and to illuminate. At the same time, one does not need to take or leave any Dharma; he only has to realize his self-nature to become a Buddha. All sentient beings are Buddha!

  Learned audience, chant after me!

  Crowd:

  (Sing.)

  Sentient beings are infinite in number,

  We vow to deliver them all;

  Troubles are infinite in number,

  We vow to sever them all.

  Troubles are no different from Bodhi,

  All sentient beings are Buddha!

  [Enter Writer from one side of the stage. He stands and stops to listen.

  Huineng:

  Learned audience!

  We say that “sentient beings are infinite in number,” and we say that “we vow to deliver them all.” But I, Huineng, cannot accomplish the deliverance on your behalf, you must do it yourselves through your self-nature.

  Within our physical body there are improprieties, troubles, foolishness, and delusions. We should deliver them by our innate awareness of propriety. Together with Prajna Wisdom, this enlightenment will remove ignorance and delusions, so that each of the sentient beings will be able to deliver themselves.

  We say that “Troubles are infinite in number,” and we say that “we vow to sever them all.” This means that we should remove the illusions and fallacies from our mind, thereby obtaining self-enlightenment and Buddhahood. Buddha is all sentient beings; all sentient beings are Buddha.

  (Clasps his palms.)

  Crowd:

  (Chant.)

  Shanzai! It is good!

  Shanzai! It is good!

  Huineng:

  (Stretching out his hands.)

  Let me teach you all the disciplinary rules of formless-ness.

  (Goes down the pulpit and walks about among the crowd to teach them.)

  Crowd:

  (Sing.)

  All sentient beings are Buddha,

  Buddha is us.

  [Exit Crowd, their head lowered. Writer moves forward.

  Writer:

  Master, can you teach me too?

  Huineng:

  Teach you what?

  (Writer draws a circle on his head with his hand.)

  Huineng:

  Sinner! Come back some other day.

  Writer:

  Where can I find you?

  Huineng:

  If you really want to find me, you’ll know where to find me. (Exit laughing.)

  [Enter Singsong Girl again amid music.

  Writer:

  Lady, what kind of songs can you sing for me?

  Singsong Girl:

  I’m here to entertain. What else can I sing about other than love, romance, boy-meets-girl, or things like that? Just tell me what you want to hear and I’ll sing it for you.

  Mister, are you in a hurry to go to the capital for the civil examination? Or are you one of those talented scholars longing for recognition?

  Writer:

  I’m doing nothing at present, just spending my life playing games. But I can’t really get myself to sever my ties with the world either. I’m still a man of the world.

  Let me see. Why don’t you sing “Snow in August”?

  Singsong Girl Mister, is there snow in August?

  [Zither music halts abruptly. Exit both Writer and Singsong Girl.

  Act II　Scene 4

  In Which the Patriarch Passes Away

  [“Small drum” (for marking time) is beaten twice. Enter two guards.

  Guard:

  Where is the abbot of the temple?

  [Enter Fahai with four monks.

  Fahai:

  Who is it that dares to barge in here? Don’t you know that the temple is a place of quietude?

  [Enter Head Guard.

  Head Guard:

  Make way for General Xue Jian, eunuch of the Imperial Palace!

  [Enter Xue Jian and a guard.

  Fahai:

  I’m Fahai. I must apologize for not welcoming you at the front door!

  Xue Jian:

  His Majesty has handed down an imperial edict. In great haste, I have come from the capital, traveling day and night without tarrying. Please send for Master Huineng on the instant so that he may receive His Majesty’s edict.

  Fahai:

  Amitahba! Go call Master Huineng! Quick!

  Monks:

  (Passing on the word from one to another.)

  An Imperial edict!

  Goodness gracious! Something big has happened!

  Tell the Grand Master to come at once!

  [Exit one of the monks, running.

  Fahai:

  May I ask the general to enter the guest chamber to change and take a bath?

  Xue Jian:

  There is no need.

  Fahai:

  For years I have been serving the master on the moun-tain, therefore I have no knowledge of the protocol for receiving an imperial edict. I hope the general will expound it for me so that I can make preparations by burning incense sticks and make obeisance—

  [Enter Huineng holding a staff in his hand, helped along by a monk.

  Huineng:

  Please accept my deepest apology. I am unaware of the reason why the imperial court is involved and why your lordship had to undertake such an arduous journey. Please let me be enlightened.

  Xue Jian:

  I am Xue Jian, eunuch of the imperial court. By order o
f the Empress Dowager Zetian and the His Majesty Zhongzong, you hereby are to receive the imperial edict!

  Huineng:

  (Clasps his palms to make obeisance and receives the imperial edict.)

  Huineng has not learned to read or write, may I trouble the honorable eunuch to read out His Majesty’s royal letter? I will listen attentively, so that I will know what crime I have committed!

  Xue Jian:

  The excellent teachings of the Grand Master have traveled far and wide and are respected by both Heaven and men. Why should there be any crime? The Empress Dowager and His Majesty in the royal palace are full of great admiration for the Grand Master and long for your presence, despite a distance of ten thousand miles. Therefore they have sent your humble servant to tender an invitation requesting the Grand Master’s presence at the royal palace, where there will be a temple for your exclusive use. May I ask the Grand Master to make preparations and set off for the capital as soon as possible? Your humble servant will be your escort!

  Huineng:

  I’m old and my feet are not well. I can’t walk far.

  Xue Jian:

  This matters not. We have brought along a steed for your use. The Grand Master doesn’t even have to walk an inch, and there are post stations that will provide for and look after your needs. There’s really nothing to worry about.

  Huineng:

  I have a bad back. I can’t ride horses.

  Xue Jian:

  Then we’ll use a carriage. We can carry you on and off the carriage. And the driver will look after everything.

  Huineng:

  These old bones of mine, I’m afraid they’ll end up all broken and cracked before I arrive at the capital and present myself to the Empress Dowager and His Majesty. I might even have to trouble His Majesty to pick up my scattered bones. This will not do! This will definitely not do!

  Xue Jian:

  But I have orders to follow. How am I going to answer to His Majesty?

  Huineng:

  I’m a poor man, I have nothing in my possession except this kasaya robe handed down to me by my teacher. Let me give it to you and trouble you to present it to the Empress Dowager and His Majesty. In this way, I can requite in part His Majesty’s solicitude.