Follow the Current

Fachang, a disciple of the Chan master Mazu Daoyi and a renowned Tang dynasty monk, resided as abbot on Great Plum Mountain (Daimei Shan) in Yuyao, earning him the name “Great Plum Fachang.”

A monk under National Teacher Qi’an once wandered lost while gathering wood for a staff and stumbled upon Fachang’s hermitage. He asked, “How long have you lived here?” Fachang replied, “I’ve only seen the mountains turn green, then yellow, then green again.” The monk pressed, “Which way leads out of the mountains?” Fachang answered, “Follow the current.”

When the monk reported this to Qi’an, the teacher remarked, “I once met a monk like this at Mazu’s in Jiangxi Province — could it be him?” He sent the monk back to investigate. Fachang responded with a verse:

A withered tree leans in the cold forest,
Unchanged through countless springs.
Woodcutters pass without a glance—
Why chase shadows from the past?
A lotus pond clothes me endlessly,
Pine blossoms feed me beyond need.
Now that the world knows my dwelling,
I retreat deeper into the wilds.

True to his words, Fachang moved deeper into the mountains. One day, he told his disciples, “What comes cannot be held back; what goes cannot be pursued.” With that, he passed into nirvana.

Cultural & Philosophical Notes

Non-attachment and Simplicity:

Damei lives in harmony with nature, needing little — lotus leaves for clothing, pine flowers for food. This symbolizes contentment and detachment from worldly concerns.

Freedom and Spontaneity:

His phrase “Follow the Current” (“Go with the flow”) expresses the Chan ideal of effortless action and going with the natural current of life, without clinging or resistance.

Inaccessibility of Truth to the Worldly Mind:

The verse implies that true wisdom and spiritual peace are invisible to ordinary people (“woodcutters pass and do not look”) and should not be sought by those who still cling to fame or form.

Impermanence and Non-abiding:

When Damei says, “Coming cannot be stopped; going cannot be pursued,” he speaks of the impermanence of life and the futility of trying to control it. True realization lies in being present, yet unattached.

Withdrawal from Recognition:

As soon as others begin to notice him, he moves deeper into seclusion — symbolizing that genuine spiritual seekers avoid recognition and remain hidden in their practice.