萬松老人評唱天童覺和尚頌古從容庵錄 2.25

2.25

The Master said: Yang Wuwei asked Venerable Furong Kai, 'How many years have we been parted?' Kai said, 'Seven years.' Yang said, 'Have you been studying the Way, or participating in Chan?' Kai said, 'I do not beat that drum and flute.' Yang said, 'If so, then you have traveled idly through mountains and waters, capable of nothing at all.' Kai said, 'We have not been parted long, yet your lofty insight is refined.' Yang laughed heartily. Nanquan said, 'The Way does not belong to knowing, nor does it belong to not knowing. Knowing is deluded perception; not knowing is neutral indifference.' People today, seeing it said that 'not knowing is most intimate', and that this was furthermore the turning point of Fayan's enlightenment, immediately fall into an absolute 'I don't know, I don't understand', thinking this alone is it. They hardly realize that an ancient's single phrase covers all like heaven, upholds all like earth. Since 'not knowing is most intimate', what about Heze saying, 'The single word "knowing" is the gate of all marvels'? If you are right, you are entirely right, but do not sit in the place of being right; if you are wrong, you are entirely wrong, but do not sit in the place of being wrong. Concurrently penetrating the five ranks of real and apparent, how can you die beneath a phrase? As for Fayan's enlightenment here, it too was an accidental composition. Venerable Baishan Dayin said, 'Good fortune was brought about through misfortune.' Dizang's method of receiving people was to cast the hook where there was no doubt; dropping a line out of nowhere, Fayan suddenly awakened: 'So it was right here all along!' The Old Teacher of Cizhou said, 'Whether walking or sitting, before a thought arises, forcefully bring it up and look: if you see it, you see it; if not, just set it aside. Practicing this way, resting does not hinder study, and study does not hinder resting.' Venerable Touzi Qing said, 'Since the golden dragon lost its water, the wondrously-winged [Garuḍa] swiftly snatched it up.' Dizang's timing and causal conditions left not the slightest gap. Tiantong has a tongue at the tip of his brush, proclaiming it once again. The verse says: