Tengteng 騰騰和尚

School: Early Chan | Teacher: Lao'an

Tang-dynasty Chan master, personal name 仁儉 of the 福先寺 in Luoyang, universally known by his nickname 騰騰和尚 ('Abbot Helter-Skelter') for the free, unbuttoned life he led in the towns after finishing his study on Mount Song. Dharma heir of National Teacher 嵩嶽慧安. Summoned before Empress Wu in the Tiance Wansui era, he stared at her a long while and said only 'Understand?' — and when she said no, 'This old monk keeps the vow of not speaking,' and walked out. He presented nineteen short songs the next day; the Empress praised them and heaped gifts on him, all of which he refused. His 樂道歌 ('Song of Delighting in the Way') is his enduring legacy: 「問道道無可修,問法法無可問…煩惱即是菩提,淨花生於泥糞。」

References: DILA Authority A015120 | DILA Authority A010232 | DILA Authority

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