佛果圜悟禪師碧巖錄 3.20

3.20

Xuedou’s eulogy is considered by all quarters to be the ultimate standard. Among the one hundred eulogies, this one possesses the clearest line of reasoning, and in its midst is supremely wondrous, fitting the case intimately and clearly eulogizing it out: “Once riding an iron horse, she entered the layered cities” eulogizes Liu Tiemo coming like that. “When the edict came down, it was reported that the six states were cleared” eulogizes Guishan asking like that. “Still grasping the golden whip, he asks the returning guest” eulogizes the Grinder saying: “Tomorrow there is a great feast at Taishan. Is the Venerable going?” “In the deep of night, who walks along the imperial street together?” eulogizes Guishan letting his body fall and lying down, and the Grinder thereupon walking out. Xuedou had this sort of talent and style: where it was urgent, he eulogized toward urgency; where it was leisurely, he eulogized toward leisure. Fengxue also once brought this up with the same meaning as Xuedou; this eulogy is praised by all quarters. Standing on the highest mountain peak, demons and outsiders cannot know; walking on the deepest sea floor, the Buddha-eye cannot catch sight. Look at them: one lays his body down, and the other simply walks out. If they had been further involved in complications, they would instantly have lost sight of the road. Xuedou’s eulogistic meaning is finest: it is “Once riding an iron horse, she entered the layered cities.” Were they not of identical attainment and identical realization, how could they have been like this? And tell me, what meaning was attained? Do you not see a monk who asked Fengxue: “Guishan said, ‘Old cow, you have come!’ What was the intention?” Fengxue said: “Deep within the white clouds, the golden dragon leaps.” The monk said: “Just as Liu Tiemo said, ‘Tomorrow there is a great feast at Taishan. Is the Venerable going?’ What was the intention?” Fengxue said: “In the core of the blue waves, the jade rabbit is startled.” The monk said: “Guishan then took the posture of lying down. What was the intention?” Fengxue said: “Old, clumsy, and indolent on an idle day; sleeping at ease and lying high facing the blue mountains.” This meaning is also the same as Xuedou’s.