History records that the Chinese government tried to stamp out Buddhism at certain times during the T'ang, Sung, Ming and Ch'ing Dynasties; and the zeal of the communists' persecution of Buddhists in this century was unparalleled in Chinese history. During these harsh times, monks and nuns were forced to return to lay life, and monasteries were confiscated or put to other uses. Some monuments survived, but many texts, records and icons were destroyed.

Even though Buddhism was not always welcomed in China, there was no other country, aside from India perhaps, where Buddhism developed such widespread cultural power and influence. Tibetan Buddhism remained remote and sequestered until recent time. The Southern Buddhist tradition also kept to itself. Most Buddhist material was written in China, and from there it spread to Korea, Vietnam, Japan and other parts of Asia. These countries relied heavily on the Chinese tradition, which in turn was most influenced by Ch'an Buddhism.

Ch'an survived during the worst of times. If Ch'an practitioners could not enter the cities, they stayed in the mountains. If they had to, they wore civilian clothes and let their hair grow. They did not care if they were told to return to lay life.

Appearances are not important. True practitioners are concerned only with their practice. In all other things they are flexible. There is a saying: "If you cannot get food from donations, plant your own."

Ch'an has survived because of its invincible spirit. Ch'an would survive even if there were no sutras to read or temples to live in, because they are not essential to the practice. If one person practices, then another will practice with him, and it will continue and spread. It is that simple. Buddhism, especially Ch'an, is indestructible because it is flexible. It is formless.

There are no other trees in the sandalwood forest.
The lion lives in luxuriant dense thickets.