撫州曹山本寂禪師語錄 2.18

2.18

(Now, regarding what the late master clarified concerning the biased, the correct, integration, and other functions: the late master's original intention was not to clarify merits or stages of progressive practice, nor to involve doctrinal statements. It was strictly a mysterious discourse beyond the patterns, a paramount and marvelous import, merely clarifying that the original substance from of old manifests directly before us, tacitly tallying with the Way of ancient sages. Nowadays, seeing various scholars discriminating and selecting the late master's meaning and measure, there seems to be erroneous propagation. I cannot avoid briefly relating their errors and fitness, ashamed to mix up their merits. Therein, there may be borrowing ranks to clarify merit or borrowing merit to clarify ranks; their origins and threads are manifold. The merit lies in the moment: observing the impetus of the coming words, one does not fail the incoming capacity. The marvel lies simply in the excellent outcome.)