佛果圜悟禪師碧巖錄 6.41

6.41

趙州道。只這至道無難唯嫌揀擇。如擊石火似閃電光。擒縱殺活。得恁麼自在。諸方皆謂。趙州有逸群之辯。趙州尋常示眾。有此一篇云。至道無難唯嫌揀擇。纔有語言。是揀擇。是明白。老僧不在明白裹。是汝等還護惜也無。

Zhaozhou said: "It is just this: 'The Great Way is not difficult; it only disdains choosing and picking.'" Like sparks struck from flint, like a flash of lightning. Seizing and releasing, killing and giving life—how completely at ease he is! Everywhere it is said that Zhaozhou possessed eloquence surpassing the crowd. Zhaozhou ordinarily addressed the assembly with this passage, saying: "'The Great Way is not difficult; it only disdains choosing and picking.' As soon as there are words and speech, that is choosing and picking; that is clarity. This old monk is not within clarity; do you people still cherish it, or not?"