[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [圓悟佛果禪師語錄](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1997) › 15.37 # 圓悟佛果禪師語錄 15.37 圓悟佛果禪師語錄 15.37 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [15.37](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1997.15.37) 禪非意想，道絕功勳。若以意想參禪，如鑽氷求火掘地覓天，只益勞神；若以功勳學道，如土上加泥眼裏撒沙，轉見困頓。儻歇却意識、息却妄想，則禪河浪止、定水波澄，去却功用、休却營為，則大道坦然、七通八達。是故僧問石頭：「如何是禪？」頭云：「碌磚。」僧云：「如何是道？」頭云：「木頭。」此豈意想功勳所能辯哉？除非直下頓領、截流便透，則禪道歷然；才擬作解，則千里萬里。要是向來世智辯聰，頓然放却消遣令盡，自然於此至實之地自證自悟，而不留證悟之迹，翛然玄虛通達乃善。 > Chan is not conceptual thought; the Way is beyond merit and achievement. If one investigates Chan with conceptual thought, it is like drilling ice to seek fire or digging the earth to find the sky—it only wearies the spirit. If one studies the Way through merit and achievement, it is like adding mud onto soil or throwing sand into the eyes—one will only become increasingly exhausted. If one halts consciousness and quiets妄想 (deluded thoughts), then the waves of the Chan river will cease and the waters of samādhi will become clear; if one does away with effort and ceases all striving, then the Great Way will be level and open, penetrating in all directions. Therefore, a monk asked Shitou: 'What is Chan?' Shitou said: 'A brick.' The monk asked: 'What is the Way?' Shitou said: 'A block of wood.' How could this be distinguished by conceptual thought or merit and achievement? Unless you directly comprehend it頓 (at once) and penetrate it by cutting off the flow, Chan and the Way will be distinct and evident; the moment you attempt to construct an understanding, you are a thousand or ten thousand miles away. You must頓 (at once) abandon and entirely dispel all previous worldly knowledge and clever disputation. Then naturally, on this most real ground, you will realize and awaken for yourself without leaving behind any trace of realization or awakening. It is good only when you are leisurely, mysteriously empty, and thoroughly unimpeded. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 15.36](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1997.15.36) - [Next: 15.38](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1997.15.38) - [Up: 15](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1997.15) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1997~en-mt.15.37) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1997.15.37](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1997.15.37) · Pramāṇa