Snow in August by Gao Xingjian Page A

indeed be boundless.
    Master, please change into the Dharma robe you have inherited.
    Huineng:
    Dharma robe or no Dharma robe, what is the difference?
    Yinzong:
    If you had on an ordinary kasaya robe, you would be a mere lay brother, and only I would recognize your true identity. If you had on the Dharma robe, then everyone would know that you are the true inheritor of the Dharma . For the sake of the glory of the Buddhist order, and for the sake of the enlightenment of the deluded, I hereby request the Master to ascend the pulpit in the Dharma robe!
    Huineng:
    Then Huineng will have no choice but to do that which he would not normally do. What indulgence! ( Bows and smiles .)
    Please go in first. I will follow shortly.
     
    [ Yinzong smiles in approval. Exit. Bell tolls loudly. Exit Huineng .
    Enter the monks hurriedly one after another .
    Enter Yinzong. Bell tolling stops .
     
    Yinzong:
    Two hundred years ago in the Southern Dynasties, there was a tripitaka master by the name of True Meaning. He planted two bodhi trees on both sides of this pulpit. He also told his disciples to take good care of the trees, for later a Bodhisattva would come and perform the Supreme Dharma ceremony. We are really fortunate today because this prophecy has come true. I welcome to this pulpit Master Huineng, Bodhisattva-in-person and true successor to the patriarchs. He will lecture us on the teachings of the East Mountain Temple School.
     
    [ Enter Huineng in Dharma robe .
     
    Huineng:
    ( Smiling .)
    Let me sit under the tree here. The shade cools me.
    Greetings, everybody. Allow me to be honest with you. I don’t know how to read. I can’t understand the words in the sutra. If you want exegesis on the sutra, you should read the book yourselves. But I have one way to the Dharma , it has neither name nor words, neither eye nor ear, neither body nor concept, neither language nor manifestation, neither head nor tail, neither inside nor outside, nor anything in between, neither presence nor absence, neither cause nor effect, it neither comes nor goes, and it is not green, yellow, red, black or white. May I put the question to the learned members in the audience: what is this way?
     
    [ 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