萬松老人評唱天童覺和尚頌古從容庵錄 4.75

4.75

The Master cited Iron Wall Xiu of Yuantong's verse: 'Why trouble oneself to comb one's hair three times a day? / Once pinned firmly at the roots, then leave it alone. / After all, she yields to having good flesh and bone; / Without applying rouge or powder, she is naturally charming.' Shoushan's reply needs no embellishment; the natural style of the mother-in-law and bride is clever and deft. Like Xi Shi suffering heartache, clutching her chest and knitting her brow, which only added to her beauty; when the ugly girl imitated the knit brow, it only added to her ugliness. This rebukes learning through mouth and ear without striving for wondrous awakening. While the single mind tries to act charming, the four limbs and eight pulses on the sidelines refuse to consent.