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bamboo dipper with rice, raises the dipper and pours the rice out into a bamboo basket, which makes a sizzling sound .)
    Hongren:
    ( Arches his back to whisper into Huineng’s ear .)
    Come to my chamber. I’ll elucidate the Dharma to you.
    ( Exits into the dark .)
     
    [ Huineng straightens himself and listens. The wind howls then stops, and then all becomes quiet .
    On one side of the stage, Huiming, his eyes lowered, is seen standing on a stump in front of the drum stand. He is standing on one leg and his hand is holding an incense stick that has almost burnt out. He dozes off, his body sways and he tips and falls from the stump. It is a sudden awakening. He picks up a drumstick by the stand and beats the drum thrice .
     
    Huineng:
    Huiming, Huiming, you have failed to live up to your fame.
    ( Shakes his head continuously .)
    You’re tall and handsome, and you’re a general of the third rank. But all is in vain.
    You really wanted to understand the Dharma , so you came running here to study with the old Patriarch. You study every day and night, and you’ve been cultivating your virtues year after year, but you still lose out in the end. ( Exit .)
     
    [ At centre stage, Hongren is holding a candlestick in front of his meditation bed, his back facing the audience .
    Enter Huineng. He stands outside the door .
     
    Hongren:
    Who is it outside the door?
    Huineng:
    It’s Huineng, the layman.
    Hongren:
    What are you doing standing outside?
    Huineng:
    I’m still hesitating, wondering if I’m good enough, good enough to enter through the door.
    Hongren:
    Just take one step forward and you’re in.
    Huineng:
    ( Takes three steps forward and bows .)
    Your humble servant awaits the instruction of the Patriarch!
    Hongren:
    You’ve come from the outside, what do you see outside the door?
    Huineng:
    A world of myriad phenomena, the sun, the moon, mountains and rivers, wandering clouds and flowing water, and unending wind and rain.
    In this world there are dogs, horses, sedan chairs, carriages, and high officials and their lackeys. They keep coming and going.
    And then there are merchants and tradesmen, shouting at the top of their voices and striving to hawk their wares; people who are suffering and who have to swallow their bitterness; and men and women infatuated with love, their lives turned upside down.
    It’s now late at night, all is quiet, only the cries of a newborn baby are heard.
    Hongren:
    What do you see inside the door?
    Huineng:
    The Master and I.
    Hongren:
    ( Laughs .)
    What am I?

    Devant et derrière la porte 門之內外　Gao Xingjian　124.5 × 87.5 cm　1996
    Huineng:
    A ksana, a thought in the mind.
    Hongren:
    Where is it?
    Huineng:
    From one thought to another, it is everywhere.
    Hongren:
    ( Hollers .)
    No, it’s nowhere, nowhere to be found. So what is there to think about?
    Huineng:
    ( Silent, his head lowered. Raises his head after a short moment .)
    Nothing.
    Hongren:
    Why did you say there was?
    Huineng:
    Only because the Master asked just now…
    Hongren:
    There is no just now!
     
    [ A heavy drumbeat is heard coming from the dark. Hongren turns and picks up a wooden staff from beside his bed. He turns back and draws a circle on the floor .
     
    Huineng:
    ( Bends down to look at the circle, then looks up .)
    It’s empty.
     
    [ Another heavy drumbeat. Hongren raises the staff and draws another circle .
    Huineng raises his head and looks at Hongren with a smile .
    One more heavy drumbeat .
     
    Hongren:
    ( Laughs: Ha! Ha! )
    This shows that you are cognizant of your self-nature, a zealous disciple, a teacher of Heaven and men, a Buddha!
    This is great wisdom leading to the other shore!
     
    [ Fourth heavy drumbeat .
    Hongren returns to his bed, sits up straight, and holds the robe and almsbowl in both hands .
     
    Hongren:
    This is the robe Master Bodhidharma wore when he traveled east from India to China. He passed the robe on to the Second Patriarch Huike, Huike passed it on to Sengcan, Sengcan