鎮州臨濟慧照禪師語錄 1.52

1.52

問：「如何是西來意？」師云：「若有意，自救不了。」云：「既無意，云何二祖得法？」師云：「得者是不得。」云：「既若不得，云何是不得底意？」師云：「為爾向一切處馳求，心不能歇。所以，祖師言：『咄哉，丈夫！將頭覓頭。』儞言下便自回光返照，更不別求。知身心與祖佛不別，當下無事，方名得法。大德！山僧今時事不獲已，話度說出許多不才淨。爾且莫錯，據我見處，寔無許多般道理，要用便用、不用便休。秖如諸方說六度萬行以為佛法，我道是莊嚴門、佛事門，非是佛法，乃至持齋、持戒，擎油不㴸，道眼不明，盡須抵債，索飯錢有日在。何故如此？入道不通理，復身還信施。長者八十一，其樹不生耳，乃至孤峯獨宿，一食卯齋，長坐不臥，六時行道皆是造業底人，乃至頭、目、髓、腦、國城、妻子、象、馬、七珍盡皆捨施，如是等見皆是苦身心故，還招苦果，不如無事純一無雜。乃至十地滿心菩薩皆求此道流蹤跡了不可得，所以諸天歡喜，地神捧足，十方諸佛無不稱歎。緣何如此？為今聽法道人用處無蹤跡。」

A monk asked, “What is the intention of coming from the West?” The Master said, “If there were an intention, one could not even save oneself.” The monk said, “Since there is no intention, how did the Second Patriarch attain the Dharma?” The Master said, “Attaining is non-attainment.” The monk said, “If it is non-attainment, what is the meaning of non-attainment?” The Master said, “Because you rush about everywhere seeking, your mind cannot rest. Therefore the Patriarch said: ‘Alas, man! Searching for a head with your head!’ If at his words you turn your own light around to shine inward, seeking nothing else, and know that your body and mind are no different from the patriarchs and Buddhas, immediately having nothing to do—only this is called attaining the Dharma. Virtuous monks! Today this mountain monk cannot help it; speaking on encounter occasions, I have let out much unseemly filth. Do not misunderstand! According to my insight, there are really not so many principles: when there is need to use it, use it; when not needed, stop. Just as in various places they speak of the six perfections and ten thousand practices as the Buddha's Dharma, I say these are the gate of embellishment and the gate of Buddha-affairs, not the Buddha’s Dharma. Even observing the fast and upholding the precepts, or carrying an oil lamp without spilling it—if your eye of the Way is not clear, you will have to pay off all your debts, and the day will come when you are billed for the cost of your meals. Why is this so? Entering the Way without comprehending its principle, you return in bodily form to repay the offerings of the faithful. The elder was eighty-one, but the tree grew no ears. Even sleeping alone on an isolated peak, eating one meal at the hour of the rabbit, sitting constantly without lying down, and practicing the Way during the six periods—these are all people who create karma. Even giving away head, eyes, marrow, brain, kingdom, cities, wife, children, elephants, horses, and the seven treasures—all such views cause pain to body and mind and thus bring forth painful fruit. It is not as good as having nothing to do, being pure and unmixed. Even bodhisattvas who have completed the tenth stage seek the traces of this follower of the Way and can never find them. Therefore the devas rejoice, the earth spirits support his feet in their hands, and the Buddhas of the ten directions all praise him. Why is this so? Because the functioning of the person of the Way who is listening to the Dharma right now leaves no traces.”