圓悟佛果禪師語錄 16.45

16.45

[The Master] cited: "Changsheng asked Changqing, 'How was it before chaos divided?' Changqing said, 'The exposed pillar is pregnant.' Sheng said, 'How is it after the division?' Qing said, 'A wisp of cloud flecks the great clear sky.' Sheng said, 'Take just the great clear sky—does it still admit of flecking or not?' Qing gave no answer. Sheng said, 'If so, then living beings do not come.' Qing again gave no answer. Sheng said, 'At the very point where it is purely clear and devoid of flecks, how is it then?' Qing said, 'It is still the flow of true constancy.' Sheng said, 'What is the flow of true constancy?' Qing said, 'Like a mirror ever bright.' Sheng said, 'I wonder, is there still a transcendent matter or not?' Qing said, 'There is.' Sheng said, 'What is the transcendent matter?' Qing said, 'Break the mirror and come meet.'" The Master said, "Changsheng was skilled at asking, and Changqing was skilled at answering: glue and lacquer joining together, water and milk blending. Have you not seen the ancient saying: 'The body receives birth from within the formless, / Just like conjuring forth various physical shapes; / The conjured person's mind and consciousness are originally nonexistent, / Sin and merit are both empty, having nowhere to abide.' If you understand this verse, then you will see the question and answer of the two venerable elders; only then will you know that before parents gave birth, and after they gave birth, the whole body is exposed and revealed. Tell me: having broken the mirror, how do you meet?" Clapping his hands, he said, "Finished."