佛果圜悟禪師碧巖錄 6.9

6.9

"When the solitary and precipitous is not established, only then is the Way lofty." Xuedou's verse eulogizes Zhaozhou's ordinary way of dealing with people: he did not establish the mysterious and wondrous, nor did he establish the solitary and precipitous. He was not like those in other quarters who say, "smash empty space," "shatter Mount Meru," "dust rises from the ocean floor," or "Mount Meru stirs up waves," only after which they call it the Way of the ancestral masters. Therefore Xuedou said, "When the solitary and precipitous is not established, only then is the Way lofty." Standing like a wall ten thousand cubits high demonstrates that the Buddhadharma is extraordinary and efficacious; yet though solitary, precipitous, steep, and towering, it does not compare to not establishing the solitary and precipitous at all, but just turning smoothly and naturally in ordinary life. Not establishing, it naturally stands; not lofty, it is naturally lofty. Only when dynamic function emerges from the solitary and precipitous is the mysterious and wondrous seen. Therefore Xuedou said, "To enter the sea one must fish for the giant turtle." Look at how that lineage master with the eye casually lets fall a word and uses a dynamic function: he does not fish for shrimp, clams, snails, or mussels, but goes straight to fish for the giant turtle. He can indeed be called an adept. This phrase is used to illuminate the previous gong'an. / "Laughable is old Guanxi of the same era:" Have you not seen the monk who asked Guanxi, "I have long heard of Guanxi (Rushing Stream), but having arrived here, I only see a hemp-soaking pond." Xi said, "You only see the hemp-soaking pond, and do not see Guanxi." The monk said, "What is Guanxi?" Xi said, "As swift as a shot arrow." Another monk asked Huanglong, "I have long heard of Huanglong (Yellow Dragon), but having arrived here, I only see a red-spotted snake." Long said, "You only see the red-spotted snake, and do not see Huanglong." The monk said, "What is Huanglong?" Long said, "Slithering along." The monk said, "What if suddenly encountering the Garuḍa bird?" Long said, "Life cannot be preserved." The monk said, "Then one would be devoured by it!" Long said, "Thank you, son, for the offering." All of this is establishing the solitary and precipitous. While it is true [to Chan], it cannot avoid wasting effort; in the end it does not compare to what Zhaozhou routinely used. Therefore Xuedou said, "To explain it as 'swift as a shot arrow' is also in vain." Setting aside Guanxi and Huanglong for a moment, when Zhaozhou says, "It crosses donkeys, it crosses horses"—how will you understand this? Try to discern it and see!