大慧普覺禪師語錄 29.17

29.17

You instructed: 'I ask for a phrase for a person who believes in the Path to practice.' Since you are reading the Sūtra of Perfect Enlightenment, how could there be only a single phrase in the sūtra? The great bodhisattvas each raised questions according to their own doubts, and the World-Honoured One distinctly analyzed them one by one according to their doubts, making them exceedingly clear; the huatou given previously was also among them. The sūtra says: 'At all times do not give rise to delusive thoughts; toward delusive minds do not extinguish them; dwelling in states of delusive thinking, do not add comprehension (this phrase is the most intimate); within non-comprehension, do not discern reality.' When this old fellow previously resided at the Yunmen Hermitage, I once made a verse on it: / 'Lotus leaves are round, round as a mirror; / Water chestnuts are sharp, sharp as an awl. / The wind blows the willow catkins, running like hairy balls; / The rain beats the pear blossoms, flying like butterflies.' / Just place this verse on top and shift the sūtra text below: the verse is indeed the sūtra, and the sūtra is indeed the verse. Try practicing in this way and see: do not care whether you awaken or not; let your mind not be feverishly flurried, nor should you slacken. Like the method of tuning strings, when tightness and looseness find their proper measure, the tune will naturally be completed. When you return, just stay close to the likes of Chong, polishing one another, and your work on the Path will certainly be accomplished. Best wishes, best wishes.