佛果圜悟禪師碧巖錄 7.13

7.13

Regarding lineage masters, look at their every movement and stillness, every coming out and going in—now tell me: what is their meaning? This case of cutting the cat has been discussed endlessly throughout the chan groves under heaven. Some say it is right where he held it up; others say it lies in the cutting. None of this has any connection whatsoever. Even before he held it up, they had already completely exhausted all kinds of reasoning in circles. Little do they know that the ancients possessed the eye to stabilize heaven and earth, and the sword to stabilize heaven and earth. Now you tell me: who ultimately cut the cat? Just as Nanquan held it up and said, "If you can speak, I will not cut it"—if at that moment someone had suddenly spoken, tell me: would Nanquan have cut it or not? Therefore it is said: "When the authentic imperative is put into practice, the ten directions are cut off. Look out beyond heaven: who is the person within this?" In fact, originally he did not cut it at that moment. Nor does this matter lie in cutting or not cutting. This matter is clearly known; it is so distinct, not to be sought within emotional dusts and conceptual views. If you seek it within emotional dusts and conceptual views, you betray Nanquan. Just look on the blade of the sword right at the clash: being is acceptable, nonbeing is acceptable, neither being nor nonbeing is acceptable. Therefore the ancients said: "When exhausted, it changes; when it changes, it penetrates." People nowadays do not understand changing and penetrating; they merely run after verbal phrases. When Nanquan held it up like that, could he have been telling someone to produce some specific words on the spot? He only wanted to make people realize it for themselves, each using it and knowing it for themselves. If you do not understand it like this, in the end you will never grope your way to it. Xuedou's verse right to the point says: