Page:Ling-Nam; or, Interior views of southern China, including explorations in the hitherto untraversed island of Hainan (IA cu31924023225307).pdf/229

 Nam-wa Monastery and the Sixth Patriarch. 225 him he had received the book from Wong-mui, the fifth patriarch, who was at Yan-tai monastery in Kiang-si province. He informed his mother of the desire of his heart, and went in search of this master. A stranger, hearing of his purpose, gave him ten taels ($14), which he expended upon his mother, and set out to find Wong- mui. When he found him the master asked him, "Whence have you come, and what do you wish?" "I have come from Ling-nam," he said. "I am a native of San-chow, and wish to become a Buddhist." « Are "You are a Ling-nam man!" the master said. the savages of that region worthy to become Buddhists?" and south," replied Wei-nang. He was taken on trial, and not only accepted as a pupil, but was judged worthy to receive the robe and bowl, which invested him as Wong-nui's successor and sixth patriarch of the Church, with the knowledge of things handed down from Tat-mo. When the time of his departure came, Ng-tsó, the fifth patriarch, escorted him to Ku-kiang in Kiang-si, and for several days did not return to his house. When his disciples saw him they wondered at his manner, and asked, "Master, are you ill or are you angry?" "I am ill," he said, "because my robe of office has gone to the south." "Who took it ? " they asked. Nang-ché " ("the powerful one") was the reply, and they knew who was meant. Shortly after this he passed. quietly from the world. Luk-tsó, after parting with his master and predecessor, 15
 * The doctrines of Buddha know no distinction of north