瑞州洞山良价禪師語錄 1.83

1.83

A monk asked, "If one diligently wipes it at all times, why does one not obtain his robe and bowl? I wonder who ought to obtain them?" The Master said, "One who does not enter through the gate." The monk said, "Does such a one who does not enter through the gate obtain them or not?" The Master said, "Even though it is like this, one cannot but give them to him." The Master also said, "Even saying 'originally there is not a single thing' still does not merit obtaining his robe and bowl. Tell me, who ought to obtain them? Here, a turning phrase ought to be brought forth. Now tell me, what phrase can be brought forth?" At that time a monk gave ninety-six turning phrases, none of which hit the mark; only the very last phrase accorded with the Master's mind. The Master said, "Ācārya! Why did you not say so earlier?" Another monk listened secretly, but missed hearing only the very last phrase. He then went to ask that monk for instruction, but the monk refused to speak. Thus he followed him for three years, but he never brought it up for him. One day, on account of an illness, the monk said, "For three years I have asked you to bring up the earlier statement, but I have not received your kindness; if I cannot take it by good means, I will take it by bad." He then took a knife and stated, "If you do not bring it up for me, I will kill you, sthavira." Terrified, the monk said, "Wait a moment, ācārya, I will bring it up for you." He then said, "Even if brought forth, there is no place to put it." The monk bowed in thanks. (Xuedou Xian said, "Since he did not receive it, it was his eye; if brought forth, it must surely be blind. Do you still see the ancestral master's robe and bowl? If one enters through the gate at this point, then both hands hand them over; not only is it not the single person atop Mount Dayuling who could not lift it—even if the people of the whole country came, they could still leisurely carry them off." Cuiyan Zhi said, "Not being suited at all to receive his robe and bowl, one instead studies alongside the ancient buddhas. Now tell me, whom does one study with?" Tiantong Jue said, "Changlu would not do so; one must simply bring it forth. If not brought forth, how could one know it is not received? What is brought forth must surely be an eye; what is not received is truly blind. Do you understand? The illumination exhausted, the essence has no reliance; the whole body accords with the Great Way." Lingyin Yue, having cited Cuiyan's words, said, "Arriving at the river, the land of Wu ends; across the bank, the mountains of Yue are many.")