虛堂和尚語錄 9.55

9.55

Ascending the hall: "Throughout my life I have been fond of attacking Zen sicknesses, not knowing that sickness is the source of the Way. If you wish to know the exact truth of the source of the Way, you must sail a boat on dry land. I recall Chancellor Pei of the Great Tang, who composed a preface to the Sutra of Complete Enlightenment; each word and each meaning stirred gods and humans. I also recall the Duke of Wen of our dynasty, who authored six hymns on unravelling Zen; each praise and each censure made his verbal karma manifest. Had he not cut himself off from his past seeds, even the Buddha does not deliver those without affinity."