明覺禪師語錄 3.50

3.50

He cited: "Upādhyāya Bensheng instructed the assembly with his staff, saying, 'If I hold it up, you immediately form doctrines about the time before it was held up; if I do not hold it up, you immediately assume control at the time it is held up. Tell me, where is this old monk helping people?' At that time a monk came forward and said, 'I dare not recklessly fabricate complications.' Sheng said, 'I also know that the ācārya does not step beyond bounds.' The monk said, 'Where it is low, leveling it leaves more than enough; where it is high, viewing it falls short.' Sheng said, 'Upon complications, complications are created yet again.' The monk had nothing to say. Sheng said, 'Covering one's nose while stealing incense only incurs guilt in vain.'" The Master [Mingjue] said, "This monk was indeed skilled at cut-and-thrust, yet what could be done when his bow broke and his arrows were exhausted? Even so, Bensheng was an adept ancestral teacher: when he held it up, heaven revolved and earth turned—one ought to fold one's hands and surrender; when he set it down, grass bent as the wind blew—one must certainly protect one's whole body and keep out of harm's way. Do you see where Bensheng helped people or not?" The Master held up his staff again and said, "Great peace was originally brought about by the general, yet the general is not permitted to see great peace."