鎮州臨濟慧照禪師語錄 1.29

1.29

Ascending the hall, a monk asked, "What is the first phrase?"
The Master said, "The seal of the three essentials opened, the vermilion dot is imprinted; / Before any deliberation is permitted, host and guest are divided."
[The monk] asked, "What is the second phrase?"
The Master said, "How could wondrous understanding permit Asanga's questioning? / How could skillful means fall short of the dynamic that cuts off the flow?"
[The monk] asked, "What is the third phrase?"
The Master said, "Look at the puppets manipulated on the stage: / All the pulling of strings comes from the man inside."
The Master also said, "A single phrase must possess the three mysterious gates; a single mysterious gate must possess the three essentials. There is the provisional and there is the functioning. How do all of you understand this?" He stepped down from the seat.