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For over twenty years, a mother and daughter had sustained Chan Master Wuguo with offerings. But his inability to realize his true mind filled him with regret that he was unworthy of their support. He decided to find a teacher who could show him the Way. As a parting gift, the mother and daughter made him a monastic robe. And to help with expenses, they wrapped inside the robe four silver ingots shaped like horse’s hooves. The master was still there at midnight, meditating, when a child appeared dressed in blue, with a train of musicians. Others followed, carrying a very large lotus. The child said, “Please ascend the lotus throne!” The master thought about it. “I’ve practiced Chan samadhi, but not the Dharma method of the Pure Land School. I fear this is Mara.” The child urged him again and again to ascend the lotus throne. But when Master Wuguo grabbed a hand bell and stuck it into the lotus throne, the child and his attendants departed. Early next morning, just as the master was setting out, the mother and daughter came bearing a hand bell and said, “Our family mare had a stillbirth. The groom cut it open and saw this. We knew it belonged to you, so we came to return it.” He was drenched in sweat and composed a verse: A monastic robe, a piece of hide; four silver ingots, four horse’s hooves. But for my deep samadhi, I would have become a young foal in your family.