He strolls along in the quiet woods,
All other animals and birds keep their distance.
A crowd of animals follows the lion,
Who can roar at the age of three.
If a wild fox challenges the Dharma King,
It is like a monster opening his mouth for a hundred years.


Persecution cannot destroy Buddhism because the essence of practice is inner cultivation, not exterior ritual. If a nun is forced to return to the laity, she can do so and still practice. If she is forbidden to transmit the Dharma, she will say, "That's fine with me. There's nothing to transmit." Those who try to ruin Buddhism in debate run into a similar problem. Ch'an does not depend on language, logic and knowledge, thus it is impossible to attack. In the end, even the most stubborn detractor must give up in exasperation. Oppressing Ch'an is a waste of time and effort.

Analogies in the stanzas above illustrate this point. Sandalwood is precious. It can be used as a medicine or incense, and its wood can be crafted into fine furniture. Furthermore, sandalwood forests are rarely invaded or taken over by other types of trees. Buddhism and the Dharma are like a sandalwood forest.