圓悟佛果禪師語錄 8.35

8.35

Addressing the assembly, he said: "The Way has no fixed location; clarifying it depends on the person. The Dharma is free from seeing and hearing; severing it depends on wisdom. If one can頓 (suddenly) abandon lifelong deluded thoughts and attachments, and in a single thought suddenly awaken to one's own mind and suddenly clarify one's own nature, not being defiled by the various dusts and not falling into existence or non-existence, naturally dharma after dharma becomes clear realization. Even so, this matter cannot be understood hastily; one must give rise to the generous, eminent aspiration of a great man, disregarding peril and ruin, ignoring gain and loss, maintaining an enduring body and mind of iron and stone. Meeting conditions and encountering circumstances, remain unchanging and unaltering, constantly applying your eye to investigate deeply, not reckoning months and years, taking awakening as the goal. Under the gate of the Patriarchs, it is not like the doctrinal schools: it requires only cutting straight to the root source, grasping it under a single word, being of the same substance and same function as the holy ones, acting at ease in great liberation without failing to see the nature. As for disorderly wild intellect, deliberation, and discrimination, if there is a single thread of hair that is not severed, there will be no time of entry. In the teachings it is even said: 'This Dharma is not something that deliberation and discrimination can understand.'" He also said: "'Using a deliberating mind to fathom the Tathāgata's realm of complete enlightenment is like using the fire of a firefly to burn Mount Sumeru—it can never catch alight.' The Patriarch said: 'Simply exhaust profane sentiments; there is no separate holy measure.' Where profane sentiments are exhausted, the holy measure appears before you. You must directly rest delusive conditions, remain without thought and without contrivance, letting things become empty and tranquil. None of the thousand sages and ten thousand sages have ever failed to enter through this gate. It lies solely in maintaining sincerity, standing firm, and striving forward; if you only produce a resolute mind, you will certainly not be deceived. Take care."