汾陽無德禪師語錄 1.26

1.26

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!"