汾陽無德禪師語錄 1.55

1.55

The Master said: "Venerable elders! The Dharma is fundamentally unproduced—when has it ever been extinguished? For a thorough person, it is gouging out a wound in healthy flesh. But what can be done when beginners going forward have not yet attained peace? Therefore, we gather for a short time to strike and rouse, encouraging awakening, asking east and inquiring west, talking, meeting, and deliberating. If suddenly there is resonance within the words, and beneath the phrase there is no partiality, true wisdom manifests before you, and doubts from immeasurable kalpas are abruptly stilled—would this not be the great joy of a lifetime? Having completed the affair of leaving home, the demon armies are subdued, Śakra and Brahmā take refuge, and nāgas and devas pay reverence; yet one does not regard this with delight. This can be called repaying the Buddha's kindness and virtue, fit to be a bright lamp, also called a great Dharma torch, serving as boat and oar, as ridgepole and beam, sheltering many followers and broadly bestowing benefit, opening the eyes of humans and devas, without blinding one's own mind, in all times acting as host and guest to one another. Venerable elders, can you still believe it? If you can believe it, you must not forget it: a true lion cub, a great lion's roar. You have stood for long. I respectfully bid you take care."