圓悟佛果禪師語錄 10.8

10.8

The Master said: 'If one acts completely according to the command, scolding the buddhas and reviling the patriarchs, cutting off the myriad streams, it directly makes Śākyamuni, Maitreya, Mañjuśrī, and Samantabhadra find no way to retreat, and Linji, Deshan, Zhaozhou, and Muzhou stare wide-eyed with mouths agape—for thousands of miles there is not a wisp of cloud, and before deliberation can arise, thirty blows are given. When holding forth like this, a patch-robed monk of true character shows even greater luster, while beginning students have nowhere to grope. If one completely extends compassion and enters the weeds, setting up questions and establishing answers, preserving the host and preserving the guest, having a beginning and having an end, discussing discrepancies amid the armor and weapons of the three mysteries, distinguishing black from white within the four dispositions, threads coming and going, illumination and function operating side by side, each underfoot merely clarifying one great dynamic, this one matter alone with no other matter—when holding forth like this, a thread of a path opens for beginning students, yet it cannot help but be laughed at by patch-robed monks. There being "not so" within "so", and "so" within "not so"; provisional and real functioning together, illumination and function marching side by side; the discrepancies of buddhas and patriarchs, free of names and cutting off characteristics, not keeping to a nest, singularly clarifying the one transcendent road—this is still everyday fare. If one further overturns all this prolixity, then above is heaven, below is earth, mountains are mountains, waters are waters, monks are monks, and laypeople are laypeople. Free of so many gains and losses, mysteries and subtleties, one again falls into the armor of no-affairs. The four ways of directing [teachings] for people are, at this moment, completely taken away for you all. Tell me: what is it ultimately? Therefore it is said: "If you wish to know the meaning of Buddha-nature, you must observe the causes and conditions of the season. When the season arrives, its principle manifests of itself." Just like this present season: the great patron has finished offering the vegetarian meal, ascending the hall is completed, the repentance of transgressions is completed, the dedication for the deceased is completed—what more would you have this mountain monk say? If you can not see with eyes, not hear with ears, not think with mind, and not speak with mouth, then for thousands of miles you see the discrepancy, and thousands and tens of thousands of phrases are completely pierced through. If you understand like this, you can thoroughly penetrate ancient and modern; yet you must still know there is the transcendent matter to get it. Dare I ask the great assembly: what is the transcendent matter? The moon in empty space over the eternally ancient green pool, / Only after scooping again and again should it be known.' He stepped down from the seat.