Zhi Fahan, the "Zuo Taichong of Buddhism," was now abbot of Dong'an Temple. On this journey home to honor his ancestors, Chen Caozhi had made a special detour with Ran Sheng and the others to pay his respects at Zhi Daolin's memorial pagoda. At leisure, he discussed Daoist metaphysics and Buddhism with Zhi Fahan in the meditation hall, recalling old times. Five years earlier, when Chen Caozhi first came to Jiankang, he had met Zhi Fahan on Mount Hua in Jurong, where both had gone to see the Jewel Magnolia. With "the Buddha held up a flower, and Kasyapa smiled," he had won a horse from Zhi Fahan. Back then, Lu Weiwei was still in Hengtang awaiting Chen Caozhi's arrival, and Xie Daoyun was still in Wuyi Lane, rejecting marriage through philosophical debate-
Speaking of those days, the ugly monk Zhi Fahan chuckled. "That day in Wuyi Lane, Yuan Zicai invited this humble monk to support his arguments, while you, Layman Chen, supported the Lady of the Xie Family. I thought it was coincidence, but it turned out to have been planned. Ha! With you and the Lady of the Xie Family joining forces, unless the Buddha himself manifested his broad, long tongue, who could outdebate you husband and wife!"
Chen Caozhi laughed too. "It really was coincidence. Nothing was planned."
Zhi Fahan said, "Among the Twelve Nidanas, feeling is seventh and craving eighth. Though it was not planned, it still had a prior cause."
Chen Caozhi had another important reason for visiting Dong'an Temple that day. He asked, "Master Han, in spreading the Buddhist teachings, do you find copying scriptures a hardship?"
Zhi Fahan said, "Having resolved to spread the Dharma, I do not consider it a hardship."
Chen Caozhi said, "Surely it is more that, though bitter, you