萬松老人評唱天童覺和尚頌古從容庵錄 3.25

3.25

師云。古人病中猶為佛事。南嶽思大病障忽生。便就病作一則因緣。參云。病從業生。業從妄生。妄從心生。心本無生。病從何有。作是念已。忽然平復。萬松道。從如來禪。得安樂處。西京奉聖深禪師。有尼總持作略。病起作頌云。氣絕絕情緒。舉意無意路。瞬目尚無力常年不出戶。雖是祖師禪。大似布袋裏老鴉。芙蓉楷和尚道。只此一頌自然紹得吾宗。萬松道。雖然已是太多。不妨更有事在。馬大師又不然。院主不敢直問病體增損。微取覆和尚近日尊位如何。是他不說如來禪祖師禪。只道箇日面佛月面佛。且道。他意作麼生。佛果云。如今多有人道。馬大師接院主。有般底努眼云。在這裏。左右眼是日面佛月面佛。有底道。點平胃散來。有甚麼巴鼻。壽禪師道。無一名不播如來之號。無一物不闡遮那之形。萬松道。佛名經中有此二佛名。大師意旨畢竟如何。不見道。馬駒踏殺天下人。天覺頌云。什邡駒子氣生獰。蹴踏毘盧頂上行。正患脾疼指頭痛。病來猶有巧心情。萬松道。本性難移。山河易改。此頌馬祖雖病假中。亦以本分事為人。我輩色身強健。切莫辜負馬祖怠慢天童。頌云。

The Master said: The ancients performed Buddha-work even amid illness. When Nanyue Sizhi's sickness obstacle suddenly arose, he took the sickness and made a case of it, inquiring: 'Sickness arises from karma; karma arises from delusion; delusion arises from mind; mind is fundamentally unproduced. Whence does sickness exist?' Having formed this thought, he suddenly recovered. Wansong says: Through Tathāgata Chan, he found a place of peace and joy. Chan Master Shen of Fengsheng in the Western Capital had the style of the nun Zongchi. Upon rising from sickness, she made a verse: 'When breath is cut off, feelings are severed; / Raising an intention, there is no path for intention. / Still lacking the strength even to blink, / For year after year I do not go out the door.' Although this is Patriarchal Chan, it is very much like an old crow in a sack. Venerable Furong Kai said, 'Just this one verse naturally inherits our lineage.' Wansong says: Although this is already too much, it does no harm that there is yet more to it. Great Master Ma was not like this. The director of affairs did not dare ask directly whether his sickness was waxing or waning, but subtly submitted the inquiry: 'How has the Venerable's revered condition been lately?' He did not speak of Tathāgata Chan or Patriarchal Chan, but merely said, 'Sun-Face Buddha, Moon-Face Buddha.' Tell me, what was his intention? Foguo said, 'Nowadays many people say that Great Master Ma was receiving the director of affairs. There are some who glare and say, "It is right here—the left and right eyes are Sun-Face Buddha and Moon-Face Buddha." There are some who say, "Bring a dose of Stomach-Calming Powder; what relevance does it have?"' Chan Master Shou said, 'There is not a single name that does not broadcast the title of the Tathāgata; there is not a single thing that does not expound the form of Vairocana.' Wansong says: In the *Sūtra of the Names of Buddhas* these two buddha-names are present. In the end, what was the Great Master's purport? Haven't you heard it said: 'The colt tramples to death everyone in the world'? Tianjue's verse says: 'The colt of Shifang is ferocious in spirit; / Trampling, he walks atop Vairocana's head. / Just when afflicted with spleen pain and finger aches, / Falling ill, he still retains an artful frame of mind.' Wansong says: One's fundamental nature is hard to alter; mountains and rivers are easy to change. This verse praises Mazu for acting for the sake of others with the fundamental affair even while on sick leave. For those of us whose physical bodies are strong and healthy, we must by no means fail Mazu or treat Tiantong with neglect. The verse says: