Once when Bai Zhang delivered some Chan lectures an old man attended them, unseen by the monks. At the end of each talk when the monks left so did he. But one day he remained after monks had gone, and Bai Zhang asked him: `Who are you?'

 

The old man replied: `I am not a human being, but I was a human being when the Kashapa Buddha preached in this world. I was a Chan master and lived on this mountain. At that time one of my students asked me whether the enlightened man is subject to the law of karma. I answered him: "The enlightened man is not subject to the law of karma." For this answer evidencing a clinging to absoluteness I became a fox for five hundred rebirths, and I am still a fox. Will you save me from this condition with your Chan words and let me get out of a fox's body? Now may I ask you: Is the enlightened man subject to the law of karma?'

 

Bai Zhang said: `The enlightened man is one with the law of karma.'

 

At the words of Bai Zhang the old man was enlightened. `I am emancipated,' he said, paying homage with a deep bow. `I am no more a fox, but I have to leave my body in my dwelling place behind this mountain. Please perform my funeral as a monk.' Then he disappeared.

 

The next day Bai Zhang gave an order through the chief monk to prepare to attend the funeral of a monk. `No one was sick in the infirmary,' wondered the monks. `What does our teacher mean?'

 

After dinner Bai Zhang led the monks out and around the mountain. In a cave, with his staff he poked out the corpse of an old fox and then performed the ceremony of cremation.

 

That evening Bai Zhang gave a talk to the monks and told this story about the law of karma.

 

Huangbo, upon hearing this story, asked Bai Zhang: `I understand that a long time ago because a certain person gave a wrong Chan answer he became a fox for five hundred rebirths. Now I was to ask: If some modern master is asked many questions, and he always gives the right answer, what will become of him?'

 

Bai Zhang said: `You come here near me and I will tell you.'

 

Huangbo went near Bai Zhang and slapped the teacher's face with this hand, for he knew this was the answer his teacher intended to give him.

 

Bai Zhang clapped his hands and laughed at the discernment. `I thought a Persian had a red beard,' he said, `and now I know a Persian who has a red beard.'

 

Wumen's comment: `The enlightened man is not subject to the law of karma.' How can this answer make the monk a fox?

 

`The enlightened man is at one with the law of karma.' How can this answer make the fox emancipated? To understand clearly one has to have just one eye.