Once, when tozan was traveling with another monk, they saw a vegetable leaf floating down a valley stream. Tozan said, ”If there were no-one in the deep mountains, how could there be a vegetable leaf here?
If we go upstream we might find a wayfarer staying there.” Making their way through the brush and going several miles up the valley, they suddenly saw the strange-looking, emaciated figure of a man. It was master Ryuzan. His name meant ”Dragon mountain,” And he was also known as Yinshan, meaning, ”Hidden in the mountains.” Tozan and the other monk put down their bundles and greeted ryuzan.
Ryuzan then said, ”There is no road on this mountain – how did you get here?”
Tozan said, ”Leaving aside the fact that there is no road, where did you enter?”
Ryuzan said, ”I didn’t come by clouds or water.”
Tozan then asked, ”How long have you been living on this mountain?”
Ryuzan said, ”The passing of seasons and years cannot reach it.”
Tozan asked, ”Were you here first, or was the mountain here first?”
Ryuzan answered, ”I do not know.”
Tozan said, ”Why not?”
Ryuzan said, ”I don’t come from celestial or human realms.”
Tozan said, ”What truth have you realized that you come to dwell here on this mountain?”
Ryuzan said, ”I saw two clay bulls fighting, go into the ocean, and up till now have no news of them.”
For the first time, tozan bowed with deep respect for ryuzan. Then he asked Ryuzan, ”What is the guest within the host?”
Ryuzan said, ”The blue mountain is covered by white clouds.”
Tozan asked, ”What is the host within the host?”
Ryuzan answered, ”He never goes out of the door.”
Tozan then asked, ”How far apart are host and guest?”
Ryuzan said, ”Waves on a river.”
Tozan then asked, ”When guest and host meet, what is said?”
Ryuzan said, ”The pure breeze sweeps the white moon.”
Tozan took his leave and departed.
