密菴和尚語錄 1.335

1.335

夙植般若種智，英俊上士才出母胎立志挺然，與時流逈絕。行脚見知識，決要透脫生死大事，深期遠到，終不肯妄自尊大求寮舍穩便，四事豐饒為得計。然而透脫此一事，非是博聞強記智識過人而能企及；亦非一味忘懷，百不知百不會而能造詣。十二時中行住坐臥，譬如大辟罪人欵案已就，平生有大機智，到箇裏總用不著，只待一死而已。一旦押到市曹，魂魄都不知落著，驀被人從背後一刀兩段，便是百了千當。參禪做工夫無他術，須是恁麼提掇，方可有明悟底時節。若是隨摟摗，驢年也未夢見。

Those who have planted the seed-wisdom of prajñā from past lives—outstanding superior individuals—stand resolute in their aspiration as soon as they leave the mother's womb, soaring far beyond the common run. Going on pilgrimage to meet spiritual mentors, they are determined to penetrate through and be liberated from the great matter of birth and death, deeply setting their sights on reaching the distant [goal]. They are never willing to be arrogantly self-important, nor do they consider seeking comfortable lodging or abundant material requisites to be a successful plan. Yet, penetrating through and being liberated from this one matter is not attained through wide learning, strong memory, or having intellect exceeding that of others; nor is it reached by merely being heedless, not knowing or understanding a single thing. Throughout the twelve periods of the day, whether walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, one should be like a condemned criminal whose confession has already been recorded: whatever great cleverness he possessed in life, when he arrives at this point, none of it can be used; he only awaits his death. Once he is marched to the execution grounds, not knowing where his soul will end up, someone suddenly cuts him in two from behind with a single stroke—and that is where everything is completely settled. In investigating Chan and applying effort, there is no other technique: one must bring it forward in this way, and only then will there come a time of clear awakening. If you just rummage around randomly, you will not dream of it even in the year of the donkey.