虛堂和尚語錄 3.62

3.62

Ascending the hall, he brought up: "Changsheng asked Lingyun, 'How was it before chaos divided?' Lingyun said, 'The exposed pillar is pregnant.' Changsheng said, 'How is it after division?' Lingyun said, 'Like a speck of cloud dotting the great clarity.' Changsheng said, 'I wonder, does the great clarity still receive the dot?' Lingyun did not answer. Changsheng said, 'If so, then living beings do not come.' Lingyun also did not answer. Changsheng said, 'What about when it is purely clear, completely without a dot?' Lingyun said, 'It is still the flow of the true constant.' Changsheng said, 'What is the flow of the true constant?' Lingyun said, 'Like a mirror ever bright.' Changsheng said, 'Is there still anything beyond?' Lingyun said, 'There is.' Changsheng said, 'What is the affair beyond?' Lingyun said, 'Smash the mirror, and I will meet with you.'" The Master said: "Masters throughout the world who possess great eyes all say that 'smash the mirror and I will meet with you' is the ultimate principle. Little do they know that the mountains are deep and the waters cold, and the traveler's journey is rather far. If you wish to know how the two venerable elders were joined like glue and lacquer, you must first understand the two instances of not answering."