佛果圜悟禪師碧巖錄 8.21

8.21

A monk came from the assembly of the Venerable of Dingzhou to Wujiu. Wujiu was also a craftsman. If people here recognize these two men's one exiting and one entering: a thousand, ten thousand are just one. Acting as host is like this, acting as guest is like this; in the end the two join into one family. An episode of testing and examination, question and answer between host and guest: from beginning to end, both are craftsmen. See Wujiu asking this monk, "What is the Dharma-way of Dingzhou like compared to here?" The monk said, "Not different." At that time, if it were not Wujiu, it would have been hard to handle this monk. Wujiu said, "If not different, then turn back there!" and struck him. What can be done? This monk was a craftsman; he said, "The staff's head has eyes; you must not strike people carelessly!" Wujiu directly carried out the imperative, saying, "Today I have hit one!" and struck him three more times. The monk thereupon went out. Look at the two of them turning smoothly like wheels; both are craftsmen. To settle this matter, one must distinguish black from white and differentiate misfortune from fortune. Although this monk went out, this gong'an was not yet settled. From beginning to end, Wujiu wanted to verify his real place to see how he was. This monk seemed to prop up the door and brace the household, so one could not yet see through him. Wujiu instead said, "An unjust blow—it turns out there was someone to take it." This monk wanted to turn his body and exhale; yet not contending with him, he gently turned and said, "What can be done? The ladle handle is in the Venerable's hands." Wujiu was a lineage master possessing eyes in the crown of his head; daring to stretch his body across a fierce tiger's mouth, he said, "If you want it, this mountain monk will return it to you." This fellow was a fellow with a talisman beneath his elbow; as is said, "To see what is right and not do it is a lack of courage." Without any further hesitation, he stepped forward, snatched the staff from Wujiu's hand, and struck Wujiu three times. Wujiu said, "An unjust blow, an unjust blow!" Tell me: what was the meaning? At first he said, "An unjust blow—it turns out there was someone to take it." When it came to this monk striking him, he instead said, "An unjust blow, an unjust blow!" The monk said, "There is someone to take it!" Wujiu said, "I carelessly struck such a fellow!" At first he said, "Today I have hit one!" In the end, when taking the blows himself, why did he also say, "I carelessly struck such a fellow"? At that time, had this monk not stood tall and erect, he could not have handled him either. The monk thereupon bowed. This bow was the most poisonous; it too was not a good mind. If it were not Wujiu, he could not have seen through him either. Wujiu said, "Do you go off like this?" The monk laughed loudly and went out. Wujiu said, "Deserving of such, deserving of such!" Look at craftsmen meeting each other: from beginning to end, host and guest are distinct; severed, yet able to continue. In fact, it was just the dynamic function of reciprocal interchange. Reaching this point, he also did not say there is a place of reciprocal interchange. Naturally, these ancients had cut off emotional defilements and conceptual thoughts; each being a craftsman, neither said there was gain or loss. Although it was a momentary conversation, the two were actively alive and kicking, each having bloodlines and stitches. If you can see in this way, then throughout the twelve double-hours, it will also be distinctly clear. The monk going out was double releasing; from there down was double gathering—this is called reciprocal interchange. Just like this, Xuedou produced a verse: