Yuan-dynasty Linji master (1257-1345), of Ninghai, lay surname 陳. Heir of 橫川如珙 (himself heir of 滅翁文禮). He dwelt at 紫籜 in 仙居 for close to forty years — 「住仙居之紫籜垂四十年矣」 — a recluse so austere that travelling monks were afraid of him; he is also linked with 薦嚴寺 at Kunshan (hence 薦嚴道) and appears in the 淨慈寺志. 柳貫 wrote the preface to his recorded sayings. When 無慍 and two companions climbed to him they found him sitting on a slab across the stream 'like a Luohan painted by the recluse Wu'; 無慍's first question drew a shout that dissolved his long-standing doubt about the 狗子無佛性 koan, and the verse he then offered — 「狗子佛性無,春色滿皇都」 — was deeply approved. ⚠ HE IS NOT the 妙道 already on the chart (Dahui's female disciple): this is a Yuan-dynasty male monk, and DILA holds them as separate persons.
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