Snow in August by Gao Xingjian

They are overawed and begin to talk among themselves .
     
    Monks:
    It’s the real thing!
    I’ve never seen anything like it!
    What is it made of?
    Is it made of real silk?
    Huineng:
    It’s made of cotton.
    Monks:
    Really? My goodness!
     
    [ Boundless Treasure rings the Dharma bell and begins to dance .
     
    Boundless:
    ( Sings loudly .)
    From Spring to Summer, Autumn and Winter,
    To the east, the west, the north and the south,
    From the edge of the sea to the edge of the earth,
    A big void, with no border, no end in sight…(Exit.)
     
    [ Yinzong ascends the pulpit .
     
    Yinzong:
    The tripitaka master Gunavarman of the Song Dynasty constructed this pulpit. At the time it was recorded that an arhat would ascend this pulpit, and a Bodhisattva would receive the commandments here. At this moment,I, Abbot Yinzong of the Dharma Nature Temple, will perform the haircutting and shaving ceremony for Master Huineng. Discipline teachers, please bear witness to this service, as Master Huineng will receive the entire commandments and be fully ordained.
     
    [ Bells toll simultaneously. Yinzong leads the way for Huineng and the three discipline teachers. They walk across the hall and exit .
    Sound of wooden fish. Monks chanting .
     
    Monks:
    ( Chanting together .)
    Good men and believing women,
    Bodhisattvas and Mahasattvas,
    Let this be so,
    Control and humble the heart!
    ( Exit in a line .)
     
    [ Enter Boundless Treasure, dancing with the Dharma bell in her hand .
     
    Boundless:
    ( Loudly .)
    Troubles, troubles,
    So many troubles,
    This world of men!
     
    [ Enter Crowd, following her .
     
    Crowd:
    Look, come and take a look!
    A mad woman!
    Where? Where?
    My goodness, a Buddhist nun!
    Even the nun’s going mad!
    Boundless:
    It’s you who are mad. You pig heads, you refuse to be enlightened!
    Crowd Sing! Sing again!
    Give her two coppers!
    Have pity on her!
    Boundless:
    Have pity on you, all of you!
    Crowd:
    Get out of the way, you idiot!
    Let people pass! You devil you!
    My goodness, she’s got scabies all over her!
    Boundless:
    Oh no, I don’t. It’s you who’ve got muck all over your bodies, not me!
    Crowd:
    Leave her alone. She practices the Dhuta discipline. She wants to get rid of life’s trials!
    An ascetic nun! Amitabha!
    Boundless:
    ( Sings loudly .)
    Oh Boundless Treasure, there is boundless treasure in you,
    Boundless wonders and boundless profundity…(Exit)
     
    [ Bell ringing fades .

Act II　Scene 3
    In Which Huineng Gives His First Lesson in the Pulpit
     
     
    [ Pitter Patter of rain gradually becomes louder. Enter Huineng slowly. His head is shaved. He is dressed in a short gown made of coarse cloth and trousers, the legs of which are tied. He also has on a pair of straw sandals. He stops to listen to the crisp sound of the falling rain, stretching out his hands to catch the raindrops .
     
    Huineng:
    ( Sings .)
    The hounds you drove,
    To go after deer and doe;
    In caves and sheds of straw,
    To hunt was to live,
    A wild man in the mountains.
    They wanted to steal the Dharma,
    They wanted to hunt you down;
    Then like a bolt from the blue,
    You are honored and hailed,
    A teacher of Heaven and men.
    ( Huineng looks up and lets the rain fall on his face. Enter Yinzong in a hurry .)
    Yinzong:
    Master, what are you doing?
    Huineng:
    Watching the rain and listening to my heart.
    Yinzong:
    All the monks are gathered in the hall waiting for you to lecture them on the Dharma .
    Huineng:
    Huineng has no Dharma to talk about. That which can be spoken is not the Dharma .
    Yinzong:
    ( He waits patiently, his hands hanging by his side .)
    You are the true successor of Buddha. Everybody is looking up to you. With due respect, I must insist on the Master’s exposition so that all present will be enlightened!
    Huineng:
    Huineng is unworthy of your respect and your compliments. I’m afraid that it’d be futile even if I spoke.
    Yinzong:
    It all depends on one’s karma . If the people are enlightened, then the merits will