明覺禪師語錄 5.2

5.2

師之形言也，且異乎陽春白雪、碧雲清風者也，夫大圭不琢貴乎天真，至言不文尚於理實，乃世之衡鑑，豈智識而擬議哉。師自戾止翠峯、雪竇，或先德言句淵密，師因而頌之，或感興懷別貽贈之作，固亦多矣，其有好道者，並錄而囊之，一日總緝，成二百二十首，乃寫呈師，師曰：「余偶興而作，寧存于本？不許行焉。」禪者應曰：「乃祖闈千載之芳烈也，勿輕舍諸。」師察其慤志，勉弗獲已，抑而從之。文政幸侍座机，輒述序引，用識歲時。炎宋天聖十年孟陬月，文政謹序。

The Master's spoken expressions differ fundamentally from 'Sunny Spring and White Snow' or 'Azure Clouds and Pure Breeze'. The great jade tablet is uncarved, valuing natural authenticity; the ultimate word is unadorned, esteeming fundamental reality. It is a standard for the world—how could it be conjectured by mere intellectual cognition? Ever since the Master arrived at Cuifeng and Xuedou, whether versifying the profound and dense words and phrases of former virtuous ones, or composing verses inspired by farewells and presentations, his works were indeed numerous. Those fond of the Way collected and gathered them into a pouch. One day, compiled together, they formed two hundred and twenty poems, which were then copied and presented to the Master. The Master said: 'I merely composed them on occasional inspiration; how could they be kept in a text? I do not permit them to circulate.' The Chan practitioner responded: 'These are the fragrant and glorious achievements of the ancestral court for a thousand years—do not lightly cast them aside.' Discerning his sincere intent, the Master could not help but reluctantly consent. Wenzheng, having had the fortune of attending upon his seat, ventured to state this preface to mark the date. Revently prefaced by Wenzheng in the first month of the tenth year of Tiansheng of the Great Song [1032 CE].