虛堂和尚語錄 9.132

9.132

Ascending the hall for the great rite of the Mingyin imperial sacrifice praying for clear skies, the questions and answers were not recorded. The Master said: "The vastness of heaven and earth takes filial piety as its root; the sage's establishment of teaching takes ritual as foremost. Taking filial piety as its root, it moves heaven and earth and stirs ghosts and spirits; taking ritual as foremost, it brings offerings to the High Lord and reveres ancestors, thereby turning the workings of creation and secretly operating the cosmic pivot, so that the moon fills the vast sky and clouds retreat from the mountain faces. This is still a transitional phrase; what is the extraordinary phrase?" He struck the staff: "The great rite of the Mingyin sacrifice, the bright sun hangs beauteous in the sky."