05 Taming the Heart

The beggar Wang Ch’ung-yang enters Ma Yü’s mansion but refuses offers of comfort. Sun Yüan-chen wins him over by praising his freedom from attachment, and he agrees to teach them in the garden. When Ma Yü asks his name, Wang says he came for Ma’s wealth. Sun calls all riches impermanent; next morning he explains he needs the money to build a retreat for Tao seekers, and Ma is satisfied.