佛果圜悟禪師碧巖錄 1.8

1.8

Case 1: Emperor Wu of Liang asked Great Master Bodhidharma (Speaking of this clumsy fellow), 'What is the paramārtha of the holy truths?' (What kind of donkey-tethering stake is this?) Bodhidharma said, 'Vast and void, nothing holy.' (He thought it would be quite extraordinary; the arrow has flown past Silla. Utterly clear!) The Emperor said, 'Who is confronting us?' (A face full of shame and embarrassment; forcing himself to be clever, sure enough. He cannot lay a hand on it.) Bodhidharma said, 'I do not know.' (Bah! Coming a second time, it isn't worth half a coin.) The Emperor did not understand. (What a pity! Yet he was slightly close.) Bodhidharma thereupon crossed the river to Wei. (This wild fox spirit cannot avoid a bout of embarrassment. Going from west to east, going from east to west.) The Emperor later brought this up and asked Master Zhi. (A pauper thinking of old debts; bystanders have eyes.) Master Zhi said, 'Does Your Majesty still know this person?' (He ought to be driven out of the country along with Master Zhi; he deserves thirty blows of the staff. Bodhidharma has arrived!) The Emperor said, 'I do not know.' (Yet Emperor Wu takes up Bodhidharma's gong'an.) Master Zhi said, 'This is the Mahāsattva Guanyin, transmitting the Buddha's mind-seal.' (Wild pointing and explaining; the arm does not bend outward.) The Emperor regretted it and sent an emissary to invite him back. (Sure enough, he cannot hold fast; told you he was a clumsy fellow.) Master Zhi said, 'Do not say that Your Majesty sends an emissary to fetch him; (When someone in the eastern house dies, the western house joins in mourning; he too might as well be driven out of the country on the spot.) even if the whole country went, he would not return.' (Master Zhi also deserves thirty blows of the staff; he does not know that great light is radiating from beneath his own feet.)