瑞州洞山良价禪師語錄 1.96

1.96

The Master asked a monk, "What is your name?" The monk said, "I am so-and-so." The Master said, "Which one is the ācārya's master?" The monk said, "The one currently giving answers." The Master said, "How miserable, how miserable! People nowadays are all like this, only recognizing what is before the donkey and behind the horse, taking it to be oneself; that the Buddhadharma is submerged into oblivion is just because of this. When even the host within the guest has not yet been distinguished, how can one discern the host within the host?" The monk then asked, "What is the host within the host?" The Master said, "Let the ācārya say it himself." The monk said, "If I can say it, that is the host within the guest." (Yunju said in his place, "If I can say it, that is not the host within the guest.") "What is the host within the host?" The Master said, "Saying it like that is easy, but continuing it is exceedingly difficult." He then presented a verse: / Alas! Seeing the streams of those studying the Way nowadays, / Thousands and tens of thousands only recognize the front gate. / It is just like going to the capital for an audience with the holy ruler: / Reaching only Tong Pass, they immediately stop.