明覺禪師語錄 1.6

1.6

師到蘇州日，僧俗迎在萬壽，眾請上堂，問：「向上一路千聖不傳，和尚從何而得？」師云：「將謂是衲僧。」學云：「恁麼則大眾霑恩，學人禮謝也。」師云：「龍頭蛇尾。」問：「選佛場開，還許學人選也無？」師云：「切忌點額。」學云：「恁麼則心空及第歸也。」師云：「階下漢。」師乃云：「如天普蓋，似地普擎，有如是自在，具如是威德，誰不承恩，誰不景慕？過去諸聖，於無量劫勤苦受盡，所得祕要法門，今將普示大眾，不用纖毫心力，各請一時驗取。於此薦得，便能永出四流，高步三界；其或不知，剛是諸人諱却。」

When the master arrived in Suzhou, monks and laypeople welcomed him at Wanshou, and the assembly requested him to ascend the hall. A monk asked: "The upward path is not transmitted by the thousand sages; from where did the upādhyāya obtain it?" The master said: "I had thought you were a patch-robed monk." The student said: "In that case, the great assembly is moistened with grace, and the student bows in gratitude." The master said: "Dragon's head and snake's tail." A monk asked: "When the arena for selecting buddhas opens, is the student permitted to be selected or not?" The master said: "Take strict care not to dot your forehead." The student said: "In that case, with mind empty I pass the examination and return." The master said: "A fellow beneath the steps." The master then said: "Covering all like heaven, supporting all like earth—having such ease, endowed with such awe-inspiring virtue, who does not receive its grace, who does not gaze upon it in admiration? The past sages, through countless kalpas, thoroughly endured diligent toil; the secret and essential Dharma-gate they attained is now to be shown universally to the great assembly, without using the slightest bit of mental effort. Please, each of you, examine and verify it all at once. If you understand here, you will be able to forever depart the four currents and walk high above the three realms. If someone does not know it, it is simply that you people are avoiding it."