明覺禪師語錄 1.73

1.73

師到越州承天寺，眾請陞座，僧問：「學人不問西來意，藏身北斗意如何？」師云：「拈頭作尾漢。」進云：「請師答話。」師云：「西天令嚴。」問：「有問有答賓主歷然，無問無答時如何？」師云：「古路草漫漫。」進云：「若不上來，焉知與麼？」師云：「利劍不斬死漢。」師乃云：「作者相見，一拶一捺，撩起便行，若佇思停機，卒摸𢱢不著。若言問在答處、答在問宗，箇箇依草附木；問不在答處、答不在問宗，罕見頂上有眼。諸人還薦得也無？薦得薦不得，並是新雪竇之過，且莫鈍致承天和尚。」

When the Master arrived at Chengtian Temple in Yuezhou, the assembly requested him to ascend the seat. A monk asked, "The student does not ask about the intention of coming from the West; what is the meaning of hiding the body in the Northern Dipper?" The Master said, "A fellow who grabs the head and makes it the tail." The monk continued, "Please, Master, answer the question." The Master said, "In India, the command is strict." A monk asked, "When there is questioning and answering, host and guest are clearly distinct; how is it when there is neither question nor answer?" The Master said, "Over the ancient path, grass grows wild." The monk continued, "Had I not come forward, how could I know it is like this?" The Master said, "A sharp sword does not cut down a dead fellow." The Master then said, "When adepts meet, with one push and one press, they pick it up and go. If you hesitate in thought and halt your dynamic function, you will end up groping around without reaching it. If you say the question lies in the answer and the answer lies in the principle of the question, everyone clings to the grass and attaches to the trees; if the question does not lie in the answer and the answer does not lie in the principle of the question, rarely is an eye seen atop the crown. Do you people still understand? Whether you understand or do not understand, it is all the fault of the new Xuedou; for now, do not blame the Upādhyāya of Chengtian." He then descended from the seat.