圓悟佛果禪師語錄 1.36

1.36

Pointing to the Dharma seat, [the Master] said: "Here the Buddhas of the three periods turn the dharmacakra; here the ancestral teachers of successive generations uphold the patriarchal seal. If one wishes to travel a thousand miles, the first step is the beginning. Inevitably, I must make a model and sketch a design." Thereupon he ascended the seat, held up incense, and said: "Offered for the present Emperor, in prayer for the majesty of his sacred longevity: ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!" He held up incense again, saying: "Offered for the Prefectural Administrator, the Academicians of the Hanlin Academy, and all the noble lords." He held up incense again, saying: "This single piece of incense was not brought from the Pamir Mountains, nor did it flow forth from my own breast. In the southern region I met more than thirty venerable adepts; at the very end I ran into an old master, and by him I was struck and shattered with a single hammer blow. Today I disclose it before the assembly, offering it on behalf of the Venerable Wuzu Fayan, currently residing in Qizhou, to repay the debt of his Dharma milk." The Venerable Baofu Zan struck the gavel and said: "Assemble, dragons and elephants of the Dharma banquet; you should contemplate the primary meaning!"
The Master said, "If one cuts off the world, can it still be contemplated? Even if you recognize it before the single hammer blow falls, you still fall into the secondary and tertiary. And what is the primary meaning? Is there anyone who knows where it settles? Come out from the assembly and let us meet!"
A monk asked, "When Śākyamuni preached the Dharma, Prabhūtaratna bore witness; now that the Venerable opens the hall, the Hanlin Academician has arrived to pay his respects. Leaving aside the meeting halfway up the mountain, what about on the solitary summit of the wondrous peak?"
The Master said, "Auspicious vapors soar into the sky."
[The monk] continued, "In that case, a wisp of cloud arises at the mouth of the valley, green and towering ten thousand fathoms high."
The Master said, "How many people can know it?"
[The monk] continued, "With what will you repay the sagacious and enlightened Son of Heaven?"
The Master held up his whisk.
[The monk] continued, "All the stars in the heavens bow to the North; all the waters among humans flow to the east."
The Master said, "You have grasped the words."
[A monk] asked, "Leaving aside capturing seven times and releasing seven times, what about when host and guest meet?"
The Master said, "The jewel sword leans against the heavens, gleaming brightly."
[The monk] continued, "The blue-eyed barbarian monk nods with a smile."
The Master said, "Acquaintances fill the whole world."
[The monk] continued, "Last night at the third watch under the bright moon, I snatched the black dragon's jewel and returned."
The Master said, "Who is the person within it?"
A monk asked, "Unreached by the three grades of wise ones, difficult for the ten stages of sages to know—what is this lineage?"
The Master said, "A hammer without a hole thrown right at your face."
[The monk] continued, "It frightens people to death."
The Master said, "It has frightened one."
[The monk] continued, "I also know the Venerable is used to doing so."
The Master said, "What about you?"
The monk said, "The sparrowhawk flies past Silla."
The Master said, "Knowing it yourself, you are halfway there."
Then [the Master] said: "Singing alone the profound dynamic cuts off all streams; sweeping freely without restraint, there is no mutual accommodation whatsoever. Even Śākyamuni and Maitreya would not dare face it directly and set their eyes on it. The long sword leaning against the heavens possesses an awesome, chilling power; the bright sun high in the sky shines with pure, lucid brilliance. Nothing is not a wondrous function; no phenomenon is not the true vehicle. Reining in the great dynamic of the Buddhas and patriarchs, broadening the correct eye of humans and devas, revealing it openly under the sun, it only values knowing the return. As soon as thought is involved, white clouds stretch for ten thousand miles. Therefore an ancient sage said: 'This Dharma seal of mine is spoken for the sake of benefiting the world; wherever you travel, do not proclaim it heedlessly.' Today, humans and devas have gathered universally; before the assembly I lay it bare with complete clarity." Raising his whisk and showing it to the assembly, he said: "Does the great assembly see? If one place is true, hundreds and thousands of places are simultaneously true; if one phrase penetrates, hundreds and thousands of phrases simultaneously penetrate. When held up, heaven and earth tower high; when put down, the rivers and seas become serene and clear. What about when it is neither held up nor put down? / Fix your eyes high atop the peak of ten thousand fathoms: / The great chiliocosm of sand-realms is a single floating bubble."
He then cited: "Fadeng said: 'This mountain monk originally intended to dwell deep in rocky caves and live in seclusion to pass the time; however, because the old man of Qingliang had an unfinished gong'an, I have come forth to resolve it for all of you.' At that time a monk asked: 'What is the unfinished gong'an?' Fadeng hit him and said: 'When ancestors do not resolve it, disaster reaches their descendants.' The monk said: 'Where is the fault?' Fadeng said: 'The fault lies in your bringing disaster upon me.'"
The Master said: "Fadeng freely dispensed life and death within the realm and grasped authority beyond the borders, truly possessing a spirit that startled the crowd and an independent demeanor. This mountain monk's humble aspiration was originally also like this. Coming forth today is precisely because the old teacher Wuzu has a ready-made gong'an; expounding it before the assembly, if there is anyone who does not begrudge their life, let them step forward and try to test it. If not, I cannot help but handle and play with it myself." He gave a shout, struck the meditation couch with his whisk, and descended from the seat.