明覺禪師語錄 1.75

1.75

When the Master returned to the temple, he ascended the hall. A monk asked, "Who is the true master of Xuedou?" The Master said, "Why not ask the person in Mount Xuedou?" The monk continued, "If so, then you hold fast to heaven and earth." The Master said, "Going out the gate, one fears only not arriving first; along the road, who will wait for you forever?" A monk asked, "What is the family style of the ancient Buddhas?" The Master said, "Blue sky, bright sun." The monk continued, "Do you still permit the student to comprehend it?" The Master said, "If you are not a swordsman, please do not come by." A monk asked, "What is the first phrase?" The Master said, "A golden hammer in the sleeve." The monk shouted; the Master said, "Three thousand in the morning, eight hundred in the evening." A monk asked, "What is the environment of Xuedou?" The Master said, "Heaven has no four walls." The monk continued, "What is the person in the mirror?" The Master said, "The moon is at the central peak." The monk continued, "If so, then from the sprouts one discerns the soil; through speech one recognizes the person." The Master said, "Yes." The monk bowed; the Master said, "Measuring the ocean with a ladle—a session of bitter distress." The Master then said, "What sort of standard is this—do you still know? Venerable Chan monks! The patriarchs and Buddhas cannot proclaim it; heaven and earth cannot cover or sustain it; the two vehicles hear of it and their gallbladders split; the ten stages reach here and their souls are startled. If accomplished practitioners hone one another and meet in a decisive battle, with one push and one press, they slightly reveal the style and regulation. When blocked by phrases, mountains stand scraping the sky; when confused about the source, clouds stretch out across the wilds. Therefore the ancient sage said: 'As soon as a single word is raised, a thousand carts share the same rut.' Encompassing dust motes is still the talk of the teaching gate. What should you patch-robed monks do? May you know the time for yourselves." He then descended from the seat.