reference  to "The  gateway to infinite  wonders" in

　　   the  final  line  of  the  Tao  Te  Ching's  opening

　　   chapter.

　　   Hsiang-yen Chih-hsien

　　　　  In the  case  of  Hsiang-yen  (p.898), we see  a

　　   poetically documented progression  through the three

　　   stages  of enlightenment.  (42) What is particularly

　　   important  here  is the implication  that  his  main

　　   obstacle seems to be his own brilliant intellect and

　　   his impressive  scholarship.  Master  Tokusan  makes

　　   this  point  very clearly  in the Mumonkan: "However

　　   deep your knowledge of the scriptures, it is no more

　　   than  a strand  of hair  in the  vastness  of space;

　　   however  important  seeming your worldly experience,

　　   it is but a drop of water in a deep ravine." (43)

　　   ────────────

　　   (40) Pai-chang, p.31.

　　   (41) Pai-chang, p.34.

　　   (42) The  subsequent  discussion  of  Hsiang-yen  is

　　　　   derived  from Chang  Chung-yuan's  translation,

　　　　   Original  Teachings   of  Ch'an  Buddhism,  pp.

　　　　   189-91, 219-20.

　　　　　　　　　　　　  P.369

　　　　  The original catalyst for Hsiang-yen's  extended

　　   enlightenment  experience  came  in  form  of a very

　　   popular  kung-an  with  which  he was confronted  by

　　   Ch'an  master  Kuei-shan  Ling-yu:  "what  was  your

　　   original  face before your parents  gave you birth?"

　　   At a loss  as to how  to reply, Hsiang-yen  suddenly

　　   realized  the futility of his abstract  learning and

　　   exclaimed "There is no hunger which can be satisfied

　　   by pictures  of  food  painted  on paper!" Thus, his

　　   "hunger"   for  enlightenment   remained  unsatiated

　　   despite  his having  read numerous  texts describing

　　   it.  Vowing to abandon  his studies  of Buddhism, he

　　   burned his notes and left the monastery.

　　　　  Much later,  while  living   a  quiet   life  of

　　   seclusion, the  seed  planted  by  Master  Kuei-shan

　　   began  to  sprout.  As he was  weeding  his  garden,

　　   spontaneously  Hsiang-yen  burst into laughter  upon

　　   hearing  the sound  of a dislodged  rock  hitting  a

　　   piece   if  bamboo.   He  composed   a  gaathaa   to

　　   commemorate his break-through: