密菴和尚語錄 1.65

1.65

Ascending the hall, a monk asked: "Duke Cui of Zhao asked Patriarch Guoyi: 'This disciple wishes to leave home; is it permitted?' Guoyi said: 'Leaving home is the business of a great man, not something generals and prime ministers can accomplish.' What was the meaning?" The Master said: "Deeply discerning the incoming capacity." The monk continued: "Without the strength to lift a tripod and uproot a mountain, the thousand-league Black Piebald is not easily ridden." The Master said: "A fine patch-robed monk!" The monk continued: "When Venerable Cong of Shimen brought this up to Commandant Li, and the Commandant was awakened through this, what then?" The Master said: "You tell me, what did he awaken to?" The monk continued: "'To study the Way, one must be an iron fellow; chopping off a hand, one's mind is instantly decided. Directing oneself straight toward unexcelled bodhi, heed not gain or loss, right or wrong.'" The Master said: "Had the senior monk not brought it up, I would almost have forgotten." The Master then said: "Where the Buddhas cannot speak, when the Patriarchs cannot bring it forth, a piece of radiant splendor resides entirely under Jiangshan's fingernails. Letting go, there are three heads and six arms; holding fast, not a drop of water leaks through. Now tell me, when neither letting go nor holding fast, what then? 'The sun and moon illumine heavenly virtue; the mountains and rivers fortify the imperial abode.'"