萬松老人評唱天童覺和尚頌古從容庵錄 3.37

3.37

The Master raised the case: Linji's Extensive Sayings states: 'Within the bodily field of the five aggregates, there is a true person without status, manifestly appearing, without a hairsbreadth of separation. Why do you not recognize it? The dharma of the mind has no form; it pervades the ten directions.' Since it is said to pervade the ten directions, it is not only going out and in through the facial gates of the bodily field of the five aggregates. 'Those beginners who have not yet verified this, look, look!' Wansong says: The true person without status looks at the assembly of monks; the assembly of monks looks at the true person. At that time, a monk asked, 'What is the true person without status?' The various quarters call this 'sending off the matter with the sound of the voice.' But what can be done when one who rides the donkey does not see beneath his seat? Linji came down from the meditation seat and grabbed him. Now tell me, at which end was the true person? He deserved a palm strike. The monk hesitated: the true person was not present; what a pity! Linji pushed him away, saying, 'The true person without status—what kind of dried shit-scraper is it!' Denying it directly to his face! Xuefeng said, 'Linji is very much like a daylight robber.' Wansong says: Exposed! Xuedou said, 'One who is skilled at theft is unknown even to ghosts and spirits. Since he was seen through by Xuefeng, Linji was no adept.' He then called to the assembly: 'Today Xuedou has changed all of your eyes! If you do not believe it, go back to your respective quarters and feel around to see!' Wansong says: Xuedou has lost his eyebrows along with them! If you wish to understand being a thief in the hands of a thief, you must ask Tiantong. The verse says: