The Dubious Legend: Sengcan and Daoxin

Looking then at the Sengcan's meeting with Daoxin, who was fourteen years old, we have the following legend of thier contact:

It is presented in the following way.

       四祖道信向三祖僧璨请求接引时，两人有一段对答：

问：“唯愿和尚教某甲解脱法门。”

师云：“谁人缚汝？"

”对曰： “无人缚”。

师云：“既无人缚汝，既是解脱，何须更求解脱？”

Translated from Compendium of Five Lamps in orthodox texts as :

Daoxin: "I ask for the Master’s compassion. Please instruct me on how to achieve release."

Sengcan: "Is there someone who binds you?"

Daoxin: "There is no such person."

Sengcan: "Why then seek release when you are constrained by no one?"

It is said that then, upon hearing these words, Daoxin was enlightened.

Perhaps away from our main intent, which is to examine the teachings and contemplations, we will however re-translate this poem.

     四祖道 信向三祖僧璨请求接引时

The fourth ancestor Daoxin turned towards the third ancestor Sengcan requesting to receive an opportune moment

两人有一段对答

Some people have correct answers to all stages

问：“唯 愿和尚教某甲解脱法门”

Question: (I) only wish a Buddhist monk to be told some indication to break away from the Buddhist Teaching door

(first of the ten heavenly stems, 甲, is used for an unspecified thing)

师云：“谁人缚汝？"

Master said: What person binds you

”对曰： “无人缚”。

Answer: no man binds (me)

师云：“既无人缚汝，既是解脱，何须更求解脱？”

Master said: Since no man binds you, being the case that (you) are free, there is no further need to look to free oneself.

Clearly not the way in which it is normally translated as an impromptu way to enlighten or for koan use, but rather a reply to a specific request to give an indication, not an elaborated answer.