筠州洞山悟本禪師語錄 1.211

1.211

挹風采也尚矣！未得接眉，以為歉耳。不圖辱領芳柬并新編《洞山祖師語錄》一本，剪緘敬讀，書頭書尾區區道情，足以見研覃於大法之審實焉。且如祖錄，乃具威儀，安之卓上，淨手焚薰，拜讀一過，其搜羅之無遺漏，蘊崇之有富贍也。何異納千金於孤囊，托萬珠於一盆哉，可謂盡美矣！更聞編次，見隨例於林氏素氏，公據可嘉焉。向有印月坡者，拔語於諸書，集洞山錄以多臆裁，不行于世。如是編者，點檢異同，辨揀改易，以歸至正的實，則何人不隨喜而信受乎，有功于祖門也大矣！今承投惠，銘感曷罄，茲贈分科安樂行品一卷，以表謝悰，餘期面晤。時維溽熱，好加保重。不宣。

Long have I admired your noble demeanor! I regret only that we have not yet met face to face. Unexpectedly, I was privileged to receive your fragrant letter together with a copy of the newly compiled Recorded Sayings of Ancestral Master Dongshan. Cutting the seal and respectfully reading it, the humble spiritual sentiments at the beginning and end of the book were sufficient to display the thoroughness of your deep investigation into the Great Dharma. Furthermore, like an ancestral record, it is fully equipped with solemn dignity. Placing it upon the desk, I washed my hands, burned incense, and read it through: its gathering has left nothing omitted, and its accumulation is richly abundant. How does this differ from putting a thousand pieces of gold into a single pouch, or entrusting ten thousand pearls to a single bowl? It can truly be called the perfection of beauty! Moreover, hearing that its arrangement follows the precedent of Mr. Lin and Mr. Su, its public authority is indeed commendable. Formerly, there was one Yinyuepo who extracted words from various books and compiled a record of Dongshan, but because of many subjective judgments, it did not circulate in the world. As for this compilation, you have examined the similarities and differences and discerned the alterations to return to what is most correct and authentic; who then will not rejoice in accord and faithfully accept it? Its merit toward the ancestral gate is great indeed! Having now received your gift, how could my gratitude ever be exhausted? Herewith I present one fascicle of the Categorized Chapter on Peaceful Practices to express my thanks; the rest must await our meeting. At this time of damp heat, please take good care of yourself. Nothing more.