萬松老人評唱天童覺和尚頌古從容庵錄 2.51

2.51

The Master said: Xuansha sent a special courier speeding with a letter up to Xuefeng. Xuefeng opened it and saw three sheets of white paper. Showing them to the monk, he said, 'Do you understand?' The monk said, 'I do not.' Xuefeng said, 'Have you not heard it said: Gentlemen a thousand leagues apart share the same wind?' The monk returned and recounted this to Xuansha. Xuansha said, 'The old venerable on the mountaintop blundered without knowing it.' Xuansha succeeded Xuefeng; ordinarily, just as a son testifies against his father who stole a sheep, facing benevolence he did not yield. Saying 'What use is Southern Mountain?' was also resolute and unmatched, exceedingly unyielding. Changqing followed the delusion and immediately said, 'Many people have lost their bodies and lives,' not understanding the lion's pouncing backward. This is truly 'seeing what is right and not doing it is a lack of courage.' 'When wind and clouds converge, its horns and head emerge; indeed one sees Shaoyang step in and handle it'—this versifies Yunmen face-to-face bringing out a live snake, unlike various masters showing a reflection in a bow and cup. 'Can be dismissed and summoned'—a folk proverb says, 'To summon a snake is easy; to dismiss a snake is hard.' 'There is capturing and releasing'—this versifies his throwing it in front and then making a posture of fright. Already able to capture and release, he must know how to dismiss and summon. Tiantong says at the very end: 'To whom is this matter entrusted nowadays? A cold bite injures a person without them feeling the pain.' Whenever one brings the verse back to oneself and raises it before oneself, only then is one an adept. Xuedou also said, 'Nowadays it is hidden before Milk Peak; let all who come look at it with discernment.' The Master shouted loudly: 'Watch your step!' Wansong says: Xuedou was keen on watching his step, unaware that his skull had been pierced through. Tiantong's cold bite injures a person; a clear person does not do murky deeds. If I had been Yunmen at that time, I would have thrown the staff into Xuefeng's bosom; if he hesitated, I would have made him reap what he sowed and suffer a bite in person. Why so? Today is the second day of the second month: let us temporarily allow the dragon to raise its head.