虛堂和尚語錄 3.24

3.24

Having arrived at Daci to pay his respects, he was invited to ascend the hall: "Forms unseen and seen have standards for facing and matching; appearances inspected and uninspected have no bounds in seeking. If you can turn to that side where even a crow cannot fly across, unconstrained by vessels of form and unobstructed by dust of appearances, you will naturally transcend the dwelling of all sages and emerge beyond the great quarter; mountain streams, clouds, and the moon everywhere return together; water birds and groves of trees mutually reveal [the truth]. Although this is so, what can be done about the fact that my old man of Cifeng has not yet nodded his head horizontally? Why?" Striking his staff, he said: "'Within the gourd there are fine landscapes of its own; / never again will I search anew for the Five Old Men Peaks.'"