萬松老人評唱天童覺和尚頌古從容庵錄 1.149

1.149

The Master said: Linji instructing Sansheng not to destroy his treasury of the eye of the true Dharma is of the same function as Xinghua telling the rector Kebin, "Before long you will be a teacher who expounds the Way," and fining him a meal and expelling him from the monastery. In truth, as for this matter, it does not increase though a thousand buddhas appear in the world, nor does it decrease though a thousand sages enter nirvāṇa; how could a single Sansheng cause it to flourish or perish? The ancients demonstrated this matter when facing death also to show that there were people of capacity within the assembly. As expected, Sansheng came forward and said, "How would I dare destroy the Venerable's treasury of the eye of the true Dharma?" Like someone who refuses to accept an insult taking up the challenge, he was immediately given the fundamental forage. Before the treasury of the eye of the true Dharma was even destroyed, [Linji] instead said, "If someone suddenly asked you, how would you respond?" When one should be decisive but is not, confusion is instead invited. Sansheng then shouted. Coming from previous generations and descending to later ages, this emerged straight from within his own house. Since the three days of deafness, there has been nothing quite like this shout today. Linji said, "Who would have known that my treasury of the eye of the true Dharma would be destroyed by this blind donkey!" In those days Linji's lineage style had its own proper mandate; what a pity that he let it pass. I wonder how Tiantong will judge it. The verse says: