袁州仰山慧寂禪師語錄 1.3

1.3

Danyuan said to the Master, "The National Teacher in his day transmitted the circular figures of the six generations of patriarchs, ninety-seven in total, and conferred them upon this old monk, saying: 'Thirty years after my passing, a śrāmaṇera will arrive from the south and greatly propagate this teaching, transmitting and conferring it in succession so as not to let it be severed.' I now entrust them to you; you should uphold and practice them." He then handed the original over to the Master. The Master took it, glanced through it once, and immediately burned it with fire. One day Danyuan asked, "The various figures from before should be kept strictly secret and treasured." The Master said, "Back then, as soon as I looked at them, I burned them up." Danyuan said, "No one can comprehend this dharma gate of mine; only my late teacher, the patriarchs, and the great sages could fully know it. How could you burn it?" The Master said, "With a single glance, Huiji already knew its meaning; it is only to be put to use—one must not cling to the book." Danyuan said, "Though that may be so, while it is fine for you, people of later times will not be able to believe in it." The Master said, "If the upādhyāya requires it, it is not difficult to record them again." He immediately compiled another volume and presented it, with not a single one missing. Danyuan said, "So it is."