宏智禪師廣錄 1.3

1.3

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.