佛果圜悟禪師碧巖錄 4.39

4.39

Xuedou knew that Fengxue possessed this kind of lineage style, so he composed this verse:
“Seizing Lubi, he bestrides the iron bull;
With the armor and weapons of the three mysteries, he does not yield lightly.”
In the Linji school there are the three mysteries and three essentials: in every single phrase there must be the three mysteries, and within each mystery there must be the three essentials. A monk asked Linji, “What is the first phrase?” Linji said, “When the seal of the three essentials is imprinted, the vermilion marks are narrow; before deliberation is permitted, host and guest are distinguished.” “What is the second phrase?” Linji said, “How could wondrous discernment brook Wuzhuo’s questions? Expedient means do not betray the dynamic sharpness that cuts off the stream.” “What is the third phrase?” Linji said, “Look only at the puppet show on the stage: the pulling and hauling entirely depend on the man behind.” In a single phrase, Fengxue was already equipped with the armor and weapons of the three mysteries, keeping the seven items about his person, and did not lightly yield to him. Were it not so, what could he have done with Lubi? Later, Xuedou wished to bring out the dynamic sharpness of the Linji school: not only Lubi, but even if by the city of the King of Chu the surging waves were vast and white billows mounted to the heavens, all heading to pay court to the ocean, it would take only a single shout to make them flow backward.