萬松老人評唱天童覺和尚頌古從容庵錄 6.17

6.17

The Master said: National Teacher Huizhong of Guangzhai Temple in the Western Capital, after receiving the mind-seal, resided in Dangzi Valley on Mount Baiya in Nanyang; for over forty years he did not walk out the mountain gate. His practice of the Way became known in the imperial city. In the second year of the Shangyuan era of Emperor Suzong of the Tang, imperial order sent the palace envoy Sun Chaojin bearing an edict to summon him to the capital, treating him with the rites due to a teacher. At first he resided in the Western Meditation Cloister of Qianfu Temple; when Daizong ascended the throne, he again welcomed him to stay at the Guangzhai monastery. For sixteen years, he expounded the Dharma according to faculties. On the nineteenth day of the twelfth month in the tenth year of the Dali era, he passed away lying on his right side, given the posthumous title Meditation Master Dazheng. Foguo said: "Many people say that the National Teacher's wordlessness was itself the monument model. If you understand it like this, Bodhidharma's single school is swept clean to the ground; a mute would also understand Chan." In the past, two monks lived in hermitages and had not seen each other for ten days. The upper hermitage master asked, "Not seeing you for many days, where have you been?" The lower hermitage master said, "Inside the hermitage making a seamless monument." The upper hermitage master said, "I also wish to make one; may I borrow the model from you, Master?" The lower hermitage master said, "Why didn't you speak sooner? It was just borrowed away by someone." Fayan said, "Tell me, did he lend him the model or not?" Wansong says: The National Teacher was wordless; why did the lower hermitage master make up pretexts and speak of principles? Xuedou said: "Leaving aside Suzong's lack of understanding, did Danyuan understand? With just a single 'I request the monument model,' all the patriarchs of the Western Heavens and this land, meeting this one press, could not avoid mistaking south for north. If someone bystander disapproves, come forth; I want to ask you, which one is the seamless monument?" Wansong says: If not, then speak! Meditation Master Zhenying of Mount Danyuan in Jizhou received instruction under Mazu and served as the National Teacher's attendant for a long time. After the National Teacher passed away, the Emperor summoned Yuan into the palace, raised the previous words, and asked about them. Yuan also remained silent for a good while and said, "Does Your Majesty understand?" The Emperor said, "I do not understand." Yuan recited a verse: "South of Xiang, north of Tan, / Within, gold fills an entire country. / Under the shadowless tree, the joint-sign boat; / Upon the lapis lazuli palace, no knowledgeable friend." Some say "South of the Xiang, north of the Tan." Elder Fushan Yuanlu made it "South of the Ox Head, north of the Horse Head." Provided one grasps the meaning and forgets the fish-trap, none is unacceptable. What Xuedou said about "cannot avoid mistaking south for north" refers precisely to this. A monk asked Daling of Silla, "What is purity everywhere?" Ling said, "Severing a branch of jasper, every inch is a jewel; splitting sandalwood, every piece is fragrant." Venerable Danxia Chun's verse says: "Heaven and earth are entirely a realm of gold; / The myriad existences fully manifest the pure, wondrous body." In Danyuan, gold fills an entire country; in Danxia, the country is also of gold—there is yet a thread's difference between them. "Under the shadowless tree, the joint-sign boat." The General Remarks on the Zhouyi says: "Crossing in the same boat, why should Hu and Yue fear different hearts?" Like the third and fourth lines of the Jian hexagram: differing bodies in harmony and goodness, nothing can come between them; following and mutually protecting, as if together in a single boat. Above and below have different bodies, yet like Hu and Yue, advantageous for repelling invaders, why fear different hearts? This speaks of sharing one body and destiny, with interests identical. Meditation Master Fazhen Yi asked: "Every place is Maitreya, without gates and without Sudhana; why say 'Upon the lapis lazuli palace, no knowledgeable friend'?" Wansong says: When the palace is demolished, we shall meet! Afterwards, see Tiantong bring it before your eyes and hit your nostrils. His verse says: