汾陽無德禪師語錄 1.26

1.26

上堂云：「夫說法者，須具宗師眼目，須識玄門，要辨緇素邪正，所以古人道：『玄有玄路，鳥道難通。一語不玄，流俗阿師。』且問諸上座：作麼生是玄路？還有會底麼？與汾陽說看。要知端的，莫只恁麼兀兀地過時虛消信施，自從古德，各有出人底路，還省得麼？先聖云：『一句語須具三玄門，一玄門須具三要。』阿那箇是三玄、三要底句？快會取好。各自思量，還得穩當也未？古德已前行脚，聞一箇因緣未明，中間直下，飲食無味、睡臥不安，火急決擇將為小事，所以大覺老人，為一大事因緣出現於世，想計他從上來行脚，不為遊山翫水，看州府奢華，片衣口食；皆為聖心未通，所以驅馳行脚，決擇深奧，傳唱敷揚，博問先知，親近高德，蓋為續佛心燈，紹隆祖代，興崇聖種，接引後機，自利利地，不忘先跡。如今還有商量者麼？有即出來大家商量。」

Ascending the hall, he said: "Those who preach the Dharma must possess the eyes of an ancestral master, must recognize the profound gates, and must distinguish black from white, perverse from upright. Therefore the ancients said: 'The mystery has its mysterious paths, hard to traverse like the path of birds. If a single word is not profound, one is merely a master of worldly vulgarity.' Now let me ask you elders: what is the mysterious path? Is there anyone who understands it? Speak and let Fenyang see! If you wish to know the truth, do not merely pass your days in this dazed manner, vainly consuming the offerings of the faithful. Ever since the ancient worthies, each had a path that surpassed ordinary men; do you still understand it? The ancient sages said: 'A single phrase must possess the three mysterious gates; a single mysterious gate must possess the three essentials.' Which phrases are those of the three mysteries and three essentials? You had better understand them quickly! Consider this for yourselves: have you attained a secure footing or not? When ancient worthies travelled on foot in the past, if they heard a single cause and condition that was not yet clear, right then and there food had no flavor for them and they found no rest in lying down, urgently seeking to resolve it rather than taking it lightly. Therefore, the Old Man of Great Awakening appeared in the world on account of the one great matter of causes and conditions. Think about how those from the past travelled on foot: it was not to roam the mountains and enjoy the waters, or to look at the luxury of prefectures and cities, or for scraps of clothing and mouthfuls of food. It was all because the sacred mind was not yet penetrated; thus they hastened about on foot, resolving the profound and abstruse, reciting and expounding it, inquiring widely of those who knew beforehand, and drawing near to the highly virtuous. This was simply to continue the lamp of the Buddha's mind, to carry on and exalt the ancestral generations, to promote and honor the sacred lineage, to guide those of future capacity, to benefit oneself and benefit others, and not to forget the traces of the ancients. Is there anyone now who will confer about this? If there is, come forward and let everyone confer together!"