大慧普覺禪師語錄 29.31

29.31

As for your daily effort, my previous letter already entangled you quite a bit. Just remain as before, unchanging and unmoved; when things come, respond to them, and naturally things and self will be as one. An ancient worthy said: 'Give yourself free rein, letting things come and go; in quiet reflection perceive their source and flow. When it comes to realization, it cannot be shown to others; when speaking of principle, without realization it is not understood. The place of self-realization and self-attainment cannot be held up and shown to others; only those who have personally realized and attained it can slightly reveal a little of it before their eyes, and both will silently tally with each other.' Your instructions noted: 'From now on I will not be deceived by others, nor will I misuse my effort.' The broad outlines are already correct, and the handle has already been grasped: like an adept oxherd whose tether is always in hand, how could it trample others' crops? When you suddenly let go of the tether, the nostrils cannot be felt at all, and it is left entirely free to roam across flat fields and shallow grass. As Old Man Ciming said: 'Release it in the four directions, do not bar or check it; unconstrained on all eight sides, let it roam at will; if you wish to gather it in, it is only in the jerk of the tether.' If you are not yet able to be like this, you should hold tight to the tether and gently stroke it; once the effort of soaking and steeping becomes ripe, you will naturally not need to apply your mind to guard against it. Your effort must not be hurried: if hurried, there is restlessness; nor may it be slack: if slack, there is torpor. Forgetting it and applying the mind are both mistakes: like throwing a sword into the air, do not discuss whether it reaches or does not reach. In the past, Venerable Yanyang asked Zhaozhou: 'How is it when not bringing a single thing?' Zhaozhou said: 'Put it down.' Yanyang said: 'Since I do not bring a single thing, what should I put down?' Zhaozhou said: 'If you cannot put it down, carry it away.' Yanyang was greatly enlightened at these words. There was also a monk who asked an ancient worthy: 'How is it when this student can do nothing at all?' The ancient worthy said: 'This old monk can also do nothing at all.' The monk said: 'This student is on the stage of learning, so naturally I can do nothing; the Venerable is a great spiritual friend, why can you also do nothing at all?' The ancient worthy said: 'If I could do something, I would take away your