萬松老人評唱天童覺和尚頌古從容庵錄 3.25

3.25

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: