佛果圜悟禪師碧巖錄 1.21

1.21

神宗在位時。自謂此頌諷國。所以不肯入藏。雪竇先拈云。日面佛月面佛。一拈了。却云。五帝三皇是何物。且道。他意作麼生。適來已說了也。直下注他。所以道。垂鉤四海。只釣獰龍。只此一句已了。後面雪竇自頌他平生所以用心參尋。二十年來曾苦辛。為君幾下蒼龍窟。似箇什麼。一似人入蒼龍窟裏取珠相似。後來打破漆桶。將謂多少奇特。元來只消得箇五帝三皇是何物。且道雪竇語。落在什麼處。須是自家退步看。方始見得他落處。豈不見。興陽剖侍者。答遠錄公問。娑竭出海乾坤震。覿面相呈事若何。剖云。金翅鳥王當宇宙。箇中誰是出頭人。遠云。忽遇出頭。又作麼生。剖云。似鶻捉鳩。君不信。髑髏前驗始知真。遠云。恁麼則屈節當胸退身三步。剖云。須彌座下烏龜子。莫待重遭點額回。所以三皇五帝亦是何物。人多不見雪竇意。只管道諷國。若恁麼會。只是情見。此乃禪月題公子行云。錦衣鮮華手擎鶻。閑行氣貌多輕忽。稼穡艱難總不知。五帝三皇是何物。雪竇道。屈堪述。明眼衲僧莫輕忽。多少人向蒼龍窟裏。作活計。直饒是頂門具眼。肘後有符。明眼衲僧。照破四天下。到這裏。也莫輕忽。須是子細始得。

During Emperor Shenzong's reign, it was claimed that this verse satirized the state; for this reason it was not permitted to enter the Tripiṭaka. Xuedou first brings it up, saying: “Sun Face Buddha, Moon Face Buddha.” Having brought it up once, he then says: “What things are the Five Emperors and Three Sovereigns?” Now tell me, what was his intention? It was already explained just now: he glosses it directly. Therefore it is said: “Lowering the hook in the four seas, only fishing for ferocious dragons.” With just this one phrase, it is already done. Afterwards, Xuedou himself eulogizes the effort and search of his lifelong practice: “For twenty years I experienced bitterness and hardship; / For your sake, how many times did I go down into the blue dragon’s cave?” What is this like? It is just like someone entering the blue dragon’s cave to retrieve a jewel. Later, when the lacquer tub is smashed open, one might imagine how extraordinary it is—yet it turns out to merely amount to: “What things are the Five Emperors and Three Sovereigns?” Now tell me, where do Xuedou’s words land? You must step back yourself and see; only then will you perceive where they land. Have you not seen? Attendant Pou of Xingyang answered the question of Recorder Yuan: “When Sāgara emerges from the ocean, heaven and earth tremble; when they meet face to face, what is it like?” Pou said: “When the Garuḍa king presides over the universe, who inside can stick their head out?” Yuan said: “If one suddenly meets one who sticks their head out, then what?” Pou said: “Like a falcon seizing a pigeon. If you don't believe, verify it before the skull to know the truth.” Yuan said: “If so, then I bend my knee to my chest and retreat three steps.” Pou said: “Little tortoise beneath Mount Meru’s seat, do not wait to suffer another marked forehead before turning back.” Therefore, what things are the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, too? Many people fail to see Xuedou’s meaning, insisting that it satirizes the state. If you understand it in that way, it is merely emotional view. This comes from Chanyue’s poem, “Noble Youths’ Outing,” which says: “In brocade robes of brilliant hue, a falcon perched on hand; / Roaming at leisure, demeanors mostly haughty and light. / The hardships of sowing and reaping are completely unknown to them; / What things are the Five Emperors and Three Sovereigns?” Xuedou said: “An injustice! Fitting to relate! / Clear-eyed patch-robed monks, do not treat it lightly!” How many people make a living inside the blue dragon’s cave? Even if one has an eye on the crown of the head and a talisman behind the elbow, a clear-eyed patch-robed monk who shines through the four continents—when coming to this, must not treat it lightly either; one must be meticulous to get it.