NANYUE HUAIRANG, 677-744
A Dharma-brother of Qingyuan Xingsi. Mazu Daoyi, 709-788, was the sole Dharma-heir of Nanyue Huairang, and the other two models, LINJI YIXUAN 臨済義玄 (Rinzai) and GUIYANG 溈仰, questionable history tells us follow from this line.
Guishan Lingyu, 沩山灵佑, 771-854, and his disciple Yangshan Huiji, 仰山慧寂, 813-890, founded the Guiyang model.
What can we deduce from the teachings of Nanyue Huairang?
Master Mazu asked Nanyue Huairan, "The way is without form, how can it be perceived?"
Nanyue Huairan replied, "The Dharma Eye of the Mind Ground can perceive the way. It is the same with the Formless Samadhi".
Mazu asked, "Is that still subject to becoming and decay?"
Nanyue Huairan replied, "If you see the way through such concepts as becoming and decay, meeting and parting, then you do not really see the way."
It is clear that the reference is to the clinging to the particular arising out of the universal and not seeing the univesal nature of all things. This is the same theme of Fusion of Unity and Diversity emphasized by Shitou.