The Fox Spirit and National Master Huizhong

In the Tang Dynasty palace, the atmosphere was solemn and still, so quiet that one could hear the wind whistling through the wooden pillars. The Emperor invited two great masters to court: on one side sat National Master Huizhong, a renowned teacher of profound virtue; on the other was a Tibetan Vajrayana monk famous for his "mind-reading" ability, or telepathy.

The Emperor wished to see who was superior, so he placed the two masters facing each other. The Tibetan monk sat with a straight back, eyes closed, concentrating intensely on the mind/heart of National Master Huizhong. He began to test his powers.

"Where are you now?" he asked.

National Master Huizhong said nothing. He silently conjured an image of himself standing on a stone bridge, looking down at a rushing river. Immediately, the Tibetan monk opened his eyes and smiled confidently.

"Venerable sir," he said, "you are the teacher of a nation. Why do you stroll across a bridge to watch the flowing water?"

National Master Huizhong nodded, acknowledging that the monk had read him correctly. For the second time, the Master raised a thought, this time visualizing a bustling, noisy fair filled with acrobats and dancers. The Tibetan monk again read it accurately.

"This time, you have gone to the fair to watch the circus," he declared.

National Master Huizhong nodded once more. But when the third attempt came, the atmosphere suddenly shifted. National Master Huizhong entered meditative concentration. His mind cut off all conceptual thoughts, resting in a state of absolute stillness and purity, where no images or concepts arose. The Tibetan monk strained to use all his power to "read," but before him lay only an infinite emptiness, impossible to grasp. He stammered, sweat beading on his forehead, and finally confessed:

"I... I cannot see anything."

Only then did National Master Huizhong open his eyes. His voice was sharp and stern.

"You fox spirit! Where is your mind-reading? You can only see when my mind is agitated. But when I abide in the holy realm, you are completely blind."

National Master Huizhong then drove the Tibetan monk out of the palace. The story closes with a profound lesson: No matter how high supernatural powers may be, they are merely games of the moving mind, unable to compare with the enlightenment of saints who have transcended all realms.

The Meaning of the Story

This tale affirms that supernatural powers are not the ultimate measure of spiritual attainment. Truly enlightened beings do not need to display miracles, for their minds have reached a state of "non-abiding," beyond the reach of limited psychic abilities. Clinging to supernatural powers easily leads to delusion and exploitation, whereas the core of practice is inner purity and liberation.

Compiled from the dharma talk by Most Venerable Thich Chan Quang