佛果圜悟禪師碧巖錄 2.27

2.27

Jingqing was an heir to Xuefeng and a contemporary of Benren, Xuansha, Shoushan, and Taiyuan Fu. When he first met Xuefeng and grasped the purport, he frequently used the dynamic function of tapping and pecking to instruct students, being skilled at preaching the Dharma in response to their capacity. Addressing the assembly, he said: 'Generally, people on itinerant pilgrimage must possess the eye of simultaneous tapping and pecking and have the function of simultaneous tapping and pecking before they can be called patch-robed monks. It is like when the mother wants to peck, the chick cannot but tap; when the chick wants to tap, the mother cannot but peck.' A monk came forward and asked: 'When the mother pecks and the chick taps, what side of the matter does this amount to on your Reverence’s part?' Jingqing said: 'A fine piece of news.' The monk asked: 'When the chick taps and the mother pecks, what side of the matter does this amount to on the student’s part?' Jingqing said: 'It reveals a face.' Thus, in Jingqing’s lineage, there is this dynamic function of tapping and pecking. This monk was also a visitor at his gate and understood the affairs of his house, which is why he asked like this: 'The student taps; please, Master, peck.' In the Dongshan house, this question is called 'borrowing the phenomenon to clarify the dynamic function.' How could it really be like this? When the chick taps and the mother pecks, naturally it is perfectly simultaneous. Jingqing was also good; one could say fists and kicks corresponded to each other, mind and eye reflecting each other. So he answered: 'Can you still be brought to life or not?' That monk was also good, also understanding the shift in dynamic function. Within one phrase, there were host and guest, reflection and action, killing and giving life. The monk said: 'If I am not brought to life, I will be ridiculed by others.' Qing said: 'He is also a fellow in the grass.' Although equally entering mud and water, Jingqing certainly showed ruthless footwork and handiwork. Since this monk understood how to ask in such a manner, why did [Jingqing] instead say, 'He is also a fellow in the grass'? This is why the eyes of an adept must be like this: like sparks struck from flint, like a flash of lightning. Whether you grasp it or not, you cannot avoid losing body and life. If it is like this, you will immediately see why Jingqing said, 'a fellow in the grass.' Hence, Nanyuan addressed the assembly, saying: 'All quarters only possess the eye of simultaneous tapping and pecking; they do not possess the function of simultaneous tapping and pecking.' A monk came forward and asked: 'What is the function of simultaneous tapping and pecking?' Nanyuan said: 'An adept does not tap and peck; tapping and pecking simultaneously is a failure.' The monk said: 'This is still a point of doubt for the student.' Nanyuan said: 'What is your point of doubt?' The monk said: 'The failure.' Nanyuan struck him immediately. The monk refused to accept it, so Nanyuan drove him out. Later, the monk went to Yunmen's assembly and brought up the previous conversation. A monk there said: 'Did Nanyuan’s staff break?' The monk had a sudden awakening. Tell me, where did the meaning lie? That monk returned to see Nanyuan, but Nanyuan happened to have already passed away. He then went to see Fengxue. As soon as he bowed, Fengxue said: 'Aren’t you the monk who back then asked the late master about simultaneous tapping and pecking?' The monk said: 'I am.' Fengxue asked: 'How did you understand it back then?' The monk said: 'At that time, it was like walking in the shadow of a lantern.' Fengxue said: 'You understand.' Tell me, what kind of principle is this? This monk merely said, 'At that time, it was like walking in the shadow of a lantern.' Why did Fengxue immediately say to him, 'You understand'? Later, Cuiyan brought this up and said: 'Although Nanyuan devised strategies within the command tent, what could he do? The land was vast, the people sparse, and those who understood the tune were few.' Fengxue brought it up and said: 'At that time, Nanyuan should have struck him across the back the moment he opened his mouth, to see what he would do.' If you see through this gong'an, you will see the place where this monk met Jingqing. How can you all avoid him calling you 'fellows in the grass'? Thus, Xuedou loved his saying 'a fellow in the grass' and brought forth his eulogy: