Danxia Tianran

Danxia first studied Confucianism, but while traveling to Ch'ang-an to take the imperial exams he stayed at a lodge and dreamed of a white light filling the room, which a diviner interpreted as an omen of understanding emptiness and thereafter a Chan buddhist traveler suggested Danxia pursue Chan Buddhism instead of an imperial job.^[1]

Danxia first studied under Mazu Daoyi, who gave him a dharma name Tianran (天然; meaning "son of nature") after Danxia climbed onto the shoulders of a statue of Manjushri in the monk's hall.^[2]

After Mazu's death, Danxia journeyed from temple to temple, finally arriving at a temple where he became so cold he took a wooden Buddha statue, chopped it into pieces, and used the wood for a fire to warm himself.^[2][3][4]

When Danxia became 81 years old, he retired to a hermitage at Mount Danxia in Hunan province^[2] where up to three hundred Buddhist students gathered around the mountain and built a monastery around him,^[5] with Danxia teaching them in sayings and poems:

Just recognize that Shakyamuni Buddha was a regular old fellow. You must see for yourself. Don't spend your life trying to win some competitive trophy, blindly misleading other blind people, all of you marching right into hell, struggling in duality. I've nothing more to say. Take care!^[5]

Four years after arriving at the mountain, he said to his students, “I'm going on a journey once again.” Danxia then readied his traveling hat, robe, and staff. When he put on his pilgrim's sandals, he died before his foot again touched the ground.^[3]