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Drink the River Hsichiang in One Draft

THERE once was a monk named P'an Yun who,on first coming to Ch'an master Shih T'ou, asked him the question, "What kind of men are those who avoid the company of all dharmas?"

So saying, his mouth was covered by Shih T'ou's hand. However, the monk didn't fully realize the Truth of the master's gesture. So he paid a visit to the venerable master Ma Tsu to ask him the same question.

"Let me see how you can drink the river Hsichiang in one gulp and then I will tell you," was the reply.

After hearing this, P'an Yun attained complete realization.

Commentary: Ch'an master Shih T'ou stopped the monk by covering his mouth with his hand in order to show him the absurdity of such a foolish question, answering to which was the same as drinking the water of a long river all at once. Here we have another good example of the impossibility and futility of using words when describing self-nature. It is probable that after attaining the true nature of the self, even to drink off a river is no longer a big problem. The men whom the monk asked about were neither more nor less than the nature-in-itself. Actually, it was something that couldn't be spoken of. That is why the Ch'an masters used to employ these gestures and parables, making disciples realize the subtleties of self-nature on their own.