佛果圜悟禪師碧巖錄 5.5

5.5

"Possessing eyes within life is just like death." Xuedou was one who knew it was there, so he dared to compose this verse. The ancients said, "He investigates the living word, not the dead word." Xuedou said that possessing eyes within life is just like being a dead man; how was he ever dead? Possessing eyes within death is just like being a living man. The ancients said, "Only when all the dead are killed does one see the living; only when all the dead are brought to life does one see the dead." Zhaozhou was a living man, so he posed a question of death to test Touzi, just like something contraindicated by medicinal nature brought forward for an experiment. Therefore Xuedou said, "Why must the contraindication of a medicine test an adept?" This versifies Zhaozhou's questioning. Afterward, he versifies Touzi: "Even the ancient Buddhas say they have not yet reached it." This very place where a person of the Great Death comes back to life—even the ancient Buddhas have never reached it, and the old venerable monks throughout the world have never reached it either. Even old Śākya or the blue-eyed barbarian monk would have to practice further. Therefore it is said, "The old barbarian is only allowed to know; the old barbarian is not allowed to understand." Xuedou said, "I do not know who can scatter dust and sand." Have you not seen the monk who asked Changqing, "What is the eye of a kalyāṇamitra?" Changqing said, "I resolve not to scatter sand." Baofu said, "It cannot be scattered anymore." The old venerable monks throughout the world sit upon their curved-wood chairs, wielding staffs, shouting, raising whisks, knocking on chairs, manifesting supernatural powers, and acting as masters—all of this is scattering sand. Tell me, how can one avoid it?