宏智禪師廣錄 1.3

1.3

天童長老覺公。則所謂未言而意已親者。始余被罪南遷。泊舟廬山之下。與師一再邂逅耳而相與之意。便如故人。去歲罷相東來。師過余於四明。余復訪之於山中。語累日益歡。甞謂師曰。學佛者期於了生死。誠可謂一大事矣。士大夫間。乃有酣飫聲色馳騁勢利。而口舌瀾翻說佛說祖。自以為有得。甚者至以為譚笑之資。此何理也。余之有意於此事。而不敢自欺。他時真實處。辦得少許。方敢拈出。求師別識也。師深肯此言。且教余以辦道之方。余信受焉。會師之徒。以師語錄序為請。余既不敢自欺。其敢措辭乎。姑記與師相從大略。以塞其請云。紹興壬子望日。退晦居士范宗尹序。

Senior Monk Jue, Master of Tiantong, is indeed one with whom "before speaking the mind was already close." When I was first penalized and transferred south, mooring my boat below Mount Lu, I only met the Master once or twice, but the sentiment between us was like old friends. Last year, having resigned the premiership and come east, the Master visited me in Siming, and I visited him again in the mountains. Talking for days, our joy grew ever greater. I once said to the Master: "One who studies Buddhism aims to resolve birth and death—truly this may be called the one great affair! Yet among scholar-officials, there are those who gorge on sounds and colors, pursue influence and profit, while their tongues roll like waves speaking of buddhas and ancestors, thinking they have attained something, and in worse cases taking it as material for jokes and laughter. What principle is this? I am intent on this matter, and dare not deceive myself. In another day, at the place of truth, if I can manage just a little, only then will I dare bring it forth and ask the Master to discern it." The Master deeply affirmed these words and taught me methods for cultivating the Way. I faithfully accepted them. It happened that the Master's disciples requested a preface for the Master's recorded sayings. Since I dare not deceive myself, how could I dare compose words? I merely record the general outline of my association with the Master to fulfill their request. On the full moon day of the renzi year of Shaoxing [1132], preface by Fan Zongyin, Layman Tuihui.