大慧普覺禪師語錄 29.11

29.11

Previously I received your instruction: 'My innate faculty is dim and dull, and though I strive diligently in practice, in the end I have not obtained the method of transcendent awakening.' When Zonggao was at Shuangjing, answering what Fu Jishen asked, it was exactly the same as this question. The one who can know dimness and dullness is decidedly not dim and dull; where else would you go to seek transcendent awakening? When scholar-officials study this Path, they must instead borrow dimness and dullness to enter. If you grasp dimness and dullness, telling yourself that you have no share in it, then you are captured by the demon of dimness and dullness. Because intellectual views of old mostly have the mind that seeks realization and awakening standing in front as an obstruction, your own right knowledge and view cannot manifest. This obstruction does not come from outside, nor is it another matter; it is just the master who can know dimness and dullness. Thus Master Ruiyan habitually called to himself in his abbot's quarters: 'Master!' And he would answer himself: 'Yes.' 'Stay awake!' And he would answer himself: 'Yes.' 'At any later day do not be deceived by people.' And he would answer himself: 'Yes, yes.' Fortunately, from antiquity there has been such an example; casually bring it to attention and look here: what is this? Just this one that brings it to attention is also no other person; it is just this one that can know dimness and dullness. The one that can know dimness and dullness is also no other person; it is Li Baowen's own natal star of life. This is Miaoxi prescribing medicine according to the illness, having no choice but to briefly point out to the lay practitioner a pathway to return home and sit securely. If you immediately fix upon dead words and truly call it the natal star of life, then that is recognizing the spirit of consciousness as oneself, having even less connection to it. Thus Master Changsha said: 'Students of the Path do not recognize the true, / Only because from the past they have recognized the spirit of consciousness; / The root of birth and death for immeasurable kalpas, / The foolish person calls the original person.' What was mentioned earlier about borrowing dimness and dullness to enter is just this. Only look: ultimately, what is that which can know such dimness and dullness? Just look toward this; there is no need to seek transcendent awakening. Looking and looking, you will suddenly burst into great laughter. Beyond this, there is nothing to say.