萬松老人評唱天童覺和尚頌古從容庵錄 4.15

4.15

The Master said: The last word is like this: hard to clarify, unyielding like Deshan, sharp and brilliant like Yantou—even today, it cannot be explained away. Have you not heard it said: 'Stepping forward into the world may still be easy; / Shedding the body and uttering the word must be hard.' Zheng Gu's poem says: 'Towers of flowers and moon stand close to the thoroughfares; / A single tune of clear singing empties the golden jar. / Among those seated, there are also guests from Jiangnan; / Do not sing "The Partridge" to the spring breeze.' Tiantong uses the last two lines, conveying the sense of not bothering to raise it again. What about after raising it? The Master stepped down from his seat and went straight back to the Abbot's quarters.