The Magical Power of Ch'an Master Yin-Feng

During the Tang Dynasty, a Ch’an master, Venerable Yin Feng, possessed great magical power according to the legends. Once, he came across a fierce battle between two armies. Anxious about the potential lives to be lost, he tried to make peace through patient persuasion.

Nobody listen to his advice.

Finally he threw his staff into the sky, flew up and proceeded to dance with his staff. The battling soldiers looked at him dancing in the air and stopped fighting with each other. An otherwise bloody battle was instantaneously stopped by the Ch’an master’s magic. Even since that event, people called him the Master of the Flying Staff.

The Ch’an master has a very good sense of humor, and was full of Ch’an surprises. One day he was lecturing on the subject of life and death. He asked his disciples, "Have you seen people die during sitting meditation?"

His disciples replied, "Certainly. One Ch’an master passed away during sitting meditation."

The Ch’an master asked, "Then, have you heard of people dying while standing?"

"Yes, we have. The family of Venerable Fu all died while working their farm. Many Pure Land practitioners can also die at will." His disciples replied.

The Ch’an master then asked, "How about seeing anyone dying while standing on his head?"

His disciples were astonished and replied, "That we have never heard of or seen before."

The Ch’an master said, "Fine. In that case, I will show you." He then stood on his head and entered Nirvana. His disciples were shocked and saddened. They hurried to make funeral arrangements and encountered a difficult problem. When they attempted to move the master’s body, they found it immovable like a steel pillar. No matter how much force they used, they could not pry it off the ground. Nobody knew what to do until the arrival of the master’s sister, a highly cultivated nun. She scolded, "You used magic to confuse people while alive. Do you still want to use the same trick to impress others at death? Come down now!"

Strangely, the body fell on command. The Ch’an master did not want to impress others with his magic. He did want others to see how Ch’an practitioners could treat the state of death with total control and freedom.

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From http://www.abuddhistlibrary.com/Buddhism/D%20-%20Chinese%20Mahayana%20Buddhism/Authors/Hsing%20Yun/On%20Magic%20and%20the%20Supernatural/The%20Buddhist%20Perspective%20on%20Magic%20and%20Supernatural.htm

Sister Moon Conquors Terror

Smiling her radiant smile,
this fine lady grows from a pale ghost
with age spots on her cheek
into a beautiful princess, shining brightly

This princess spins a coat
for a rabbit who forsakes carrots
for cheese, which is found everywhere
in this eternal kingdom.

Where is this kingdom?
Now it is waning into the new;
in a fortnight, it waxes full.
What is its true name?


One day the shining princess found a rabbit, licking spilled milk. Nearby, a cow with wings munched on corn stalks.

"Hulloa, flying cow! You seem heavy with milk Why is this rabbit lapping at your excess?"

Without a word the cow took to the sky. "The children in a far-off kingdom are crying!" it mooed.

Soon darkness fell, and the princess became splotchy. Fretting, she picked up the rabbit and stroked its fur. The rabbit shuddered, and spoke:

"Those children cry because of a monster!"

"What monster?" she asked. "Please tell me, Sir Rabbit!"

"The same one that chased away Sir Cow!" replied he. "It has ravaged their village across the Narrow Bridge in the Lowlands!"

"Then I must go to Brother Sun to ask his help. No children should suffer a monster such as this!"

So the dark princess went before the Sun and curtsied.

In a booming voice, Brother Sun said, "Sister Moon! Welcome back! What brings you here?"

"Brother, Sir Rabbit tells me a monster of the Lowlands now makes children cry."

"It's true!" declared the rabbit. "I tasted spilled milk from Sir Cow!"

"This will not do! Hide me from the Lowlands, sister!"

And the dark princess, Sister Moon, obscured the sun from the Lowlands.

Soon, faintly they hear a keening cry.

"Oooooh, these lands be dark. I've no humans to eat, no terror to bring them, and hear only the crying of children. It makes me so lonely!"

So Sister Moon let Sir Rabbit go. Then she gathered up her armour, shield and sword.

She slipped across the Narrow Bridge, and challenged the monster.

"Foul beast! Eaters of humans, monster who makes children cry! Stand still and let me slay you!"

Under this barrage of insults, the monster rose high and towered over her.

"Ah, pretty woman! I eat you too!"

In an instant, Sister Moon grew to match her adversary. "Who are you to chase the flying cow, Sir Cow, away? And to frighten children? Have you no shame, monster?"

"I am but the desires dark, and passions deep!" roared the monster. "My name is Terror. What be yours, my pretty?"

"Sister Moon, the bright princess!" cried she, and struck at Terror.

Mortally wounded, Terror fell and disappeared like fog under the sun.

Then Sister Moon found the children.

She took the crying children and comforted them.

Then she took them away to the moon and brought them to her kingdom to live.

Sometimes you can see her up in the sky when the moon is full, her adopted children hiding on the dark side of the moon.

So when you look at the moon when full, wave to Sister Moon and her adopted sons and daughters.

You might not see them because they're far away. That's because they actually live in your heart.