佛果圜悟禪師碧巖錄 6.12

6.12

Viewed with the true eye, it was actually Baizhang who possessed the correct cause, while Master Ma was stirring up waves where there was no wind. If you people want to be teachers to buddhas and ancestors, investigate Baizhang; if you want to be unable to save yourselves, investigate Master Mazu. Look at how the ancients, throughout the twelve periods of the day, were never not inside this. In his youth Baizhang left worldly dust and thoroughly practiced the three trainings. When Daji (Mazu) expounded the transformation in Nanchang, he inclined his heart to rely on him, serving as his attendant for twenty years. When it came to inquiring a second time, only under a shout did he attain great awakening for the first time. Nowadays there are those who say, "Originally there is no place of awakening; one merely sets up a gate of awakening to establish this matter." Such an understanding is like a worm inside a lion's body, eating the lion's own flesh. Have you not seen the ancients say: "Where the source is not deep, the stream does not flow far; where wisdom is not great, vision does not reach far." If you understand it as an establishment, how could the Buddhadharma have reached down to the present day? / Look at Master Ma and Baizhang walking together, seeing wild ducks fly past. How could the Master not know they were wild ducks? Why then did he ask like that? Tell me, where did his intention fall? Baizhang merely followed after him, so Mazu then twisted his nostrils; Zhang cried out in pain, and Mazu said, "When have they ever flown away?" Baizhang was instantly awakened. / Nowadays there are those who misunderstand: the moment they are asked, they cry out in pain—happily they cannot leap free! A lineage master's dealing with people must carry through completely; seeing that he did not understand, he could not avoid nicking his blade and injuring his hands, simply wanting to make him understand this matter. Therefore it is said: "If you understand, there is application along the way; if you do not understand, it circulates as conventional truth." If Mazu had not twisted him back then, it would merely have become conventional truth circulating. One must also, encountering environments and meeting conditions, deftly bring them home to oneself, so that throughout the twelve periods of the day there is no gap—this is called having the nature-ground clearly illumined. If you merely lean on grass and attach to trees, recognizing things in front of donkeys and behind horses, what use is that? Look at how Mazu and Baizhang functioned in this way: though seemingly brightly alert and spiritually clear, they did not abide in the place of being brightly alert and spiritually clear. Baizhang cried out in pain: if you see it in this way, throughout the entire realm it is unhidden, manifest on every side. Therefore it is said, "When one place penetrates, a thousand places, ten thousand places all penetrate at the same time." / The next day, Mazu ascended the hall; the assembly had just gathered when Baizhang came forward and rolled up the bowing mat. Mazu then descended from his seat. Returning to the Abbot's quarters, he asked Baizhang, "I just went up to the hall and had not yet preached the Dharma; why did you immediately roll up the mat?" Zhang said, "Yesterday my nostrils were twisted by the Reverend until they hurt." Zu said, "Where did you keep your mind yesterday?" Zhang said, "Today my nose does not hurt anymore." Zu said, "You deeply understand today's matter." Zhang then bowed and returned to the attendants' quarters weeping. His fellow attendant asked him, "Why are you weeping?" Zhang said, "You go ask the Reverend." The attendant then went to ask Mazu. Zu said, "You go ask him yourself and see." The attendant returned to the quarters and asked Baizhang. Zhang then broke into a loud laugh. The attendant said, "You were weeping just now; why are you laughing now?" Zhang said, "Just now I was weeping; now I am laughing." Look at how, after his awakening, he turned smoothly and freely—he could not be caught in a cage, being naturally luminous and open. Xuedou's verse says: