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all.
    Troubles are no different from Bodhi,
    All sentient beings are Buddha!
     
    [ Enter Writer from one side of the stage. He stands and stops to listen .
     
    Huineng:
    Learned audience!
    We say that “sentient beings are infinite in number,” and we say that “we vow to deliver them all.” But I, Huineng, cannot accomplish the deliverance on your behalf, you must do it yourselves through your self-nature.
    Within our physical body there are improprieties, troubles, foolishness, and delusions. We should deliver them by our innate awareness of propriety. Together with Prajna Wisdom, this enlightenment will remove ignorance and delusions, so that each of the sentient beings will be able to deliver themselves.
    We say that “Troubles are infinite in number,” and we say that “we vow to sever them all.” This means that we should remove the illusions and fallacies from our mind, thereby obtaining self-enlightenment and Buddhahood. Buddha is all sentient beings; all sentient beings are Buddha.
    (Clasps his palms.)
    Crowd:
    ( Chant .)
    Shanzai ! It is good !
    Shanzai ! It is good !
    Huineng:
    ( Stretching out his hands .)
    Let me teach you all the disciplinary rules of formless-ness.
    ( Goes down the pulpit and walks about among the crowd to teach them .)
    Crowd:
    ( Sing .)
    All sentient beings are Buddha,
    Buddha is us.
     
    [ Exit Crowd, their head lowered. Writer moves forward .
     
    Writer:
    Master, can you teach me too?
    Huineng:
    Teach you what?
    ( Writer draws a circle on his head with his hand .)
    Huineng:
    Sinner! Come back some other day.
    Writer:
    Where can I find you?
    Huineng:
    If you really want to find me, you’ll know where to find me. ( Exit laughing .)
     
    [ Enter Singsong Girl again amid music .
     
    Writer:
    Lady, what kind of songs can you sing for me?
    Singsong Girl:
    I’m here to entertain. What else can I sing about other than love, romance, boy-meets-girl, or things like that? Just tell me what you want to hear and I’ll sing it for you.
    Mister, are you in a hurry to go to the capital for the civil examination? Or are you one of those talented scholars longing for recognition?
    Writer:
    I’m doing nothing at present, just spending my life playing games. But I can’t really get myself to sever my ties with the world either. I’m still a man of the world.
    Let me see. Why don’t you sing “Snow in August”?
    Singsong Girl Mister, is there snow in August?
     
    [ Zither music halts abruptly. Exit both Writer and Singsong Girl .

Act II　Scene 4
    In Which the Patriarch Passes Away
     
     
    [ “Small drum” (for marking time) is beaten twice. Enter two guards .
     
    Guard:
    Where is the abbot of the temple?
     
    [ Enter Fahai with four monks .
     
    Fahai:
    Who is it that dares to barge in here? Don’t you know that the temple is a place of quietude?
     
    [ Enter Head Guard .
     
    Head Guard:
    Make way for General Xue Jian, eunuch of the Imperial Palace!
     
    [ Enter Xue Jian and a guard .
     
    Fahai:
    I’m Fahai. I must apologize for not welcoming you at the front door!
    Xue Jian:
    His Majesty has handed down an imperial edict. In great haste, I have come from the capital, traveling day and night without tarrying. Please send for Master Huineng on the instant so that he may receive His Majesty’s edict.
    Fahai:
    Amitahba! Go call Master Huineng! Quick!
    Monks:
    ( Passing on the word from one to another .)
    An Imperial edict!
    Goodness gracious! Something big has happened!
    Tell the Grand Master to come at once!
     
    [ Exit one of the monks, running .
     
    Fahai:
    May I ask the general to enter the guest chamber to change and take a bath?
    Xue Jian:
    There is no need.
    Fahai:
    For years I have been serving the master on the moun-tain, therefore I have no knowledge of the protocol for receiving an imperial edict. I hope the general will expound it for me so that I can make preparations by burning incense sticks and make obeisance—
     
    [ Enter Huineng holding a staff in his hand,