圓悟佛果禪師語錄 6.12

6.12

He ascended the seat. A monk asked: "Having parted far from the imperial palace, you have now reached Nanxu. Without stepping onto the journey's path, please, Master, provide guidance." The Master said: "It has already been six days since arriving here." The monk continued: "The density of the bamboo does not obstruct the flowing water; how could the height of the mountain hinder the flying white clouds?" The Master said: "It still involves the lips and tongue." The monk continued: "Not involving the lips and tongue, please, Master, speak." The Master said: "In the highest place, there is a surplus." The monk continued: "A patch-robed monk enters the forest without moving the grass, and enters the water without stirring the waves. What then serves as verification?" The Master said: "It is still off by a little bit." The monk continued: "Only the Old Barbarian is permitted to know; the Old Barbarian is not permitted to understand." The Master said: "For now, do not pretend to be astute." The Master then said: "Thirty years ago I once came here; now the towers and pavilions stand in emerald-green irregularity. The true message of the place where Sudhana visited—who recognises the idle old awl Deyun? Is there anyone who recognises him? Before crossing Guazhou, there was a single phrase that was already spoken to all of you. If you rely on thought, if you rely on mental consciousness, if you rely on the eyes seeing, if you rely on the ears hearing, then there is no relation at all. Even if you recognise it before the Seven Buddhas and on that side of King of Awesome Sound, it is still just intellectual conversation. If you understand it thoroughly, there is no need for 'what' or 'how'—just step forth alone into the crimson clouds. If you have not yet done so, you inevitably fall into the gate of the secondary meaning. The solitary peak in the middle of the river is reflected against pavilions and towers; the twin pagodas upon the water's surface gleam with mingling gold and azure. It is truly a field of merit for the Sagely Emperor, a premier monastery of the Chan groves. Whether a jade palace or a Buddhist temple, whether a pure land or a defiled land, we erect the Dharma banner and carry forward the Patriarchal Way. Were it not for the sagely wisdom and brilliant virtue of our present Emperor, deeply believing in this Way, how could an imperial edict have been handed down first to restore this precious monastery as a land of blessings? This is why today I can meet with each of you within this ancient bodhimaṇḍa. Having arrived here, you must simply contemplate virtue, cultivate virtue, recognise grace, and repay grace. If you do so, then the entrustment of the Buddha-Dharma will find its proper place. Just at such a moment, how do you speak a phrase? The silver mountain and iron wall permit no mutual evasion; where the wind blows the grass bends, and one attains free movement."