萬松老人評唱天童覺和尚頌古從容庵錄 6.25

6.25

The Master said: This praises Linji as being truly endowed with phoenix feathers, like Xie Chaozong. In former days Huangbo slapped Baizhang; today he met with Linji's poisonous hand. A true dragon gives birth to a dragon's whelp; a phoenix nurtures a phoenix chick. The Chart of Auspicious Responses says: 'The phoenix has nine envelopes: first, taking refuge in fate; second, the heart conforms to measure—meaning heavenly measure; third, the ears hear comprehensively; fourth, the tongue curves and extends; fifth, its plumage is brilliantly colored; sixth, its crest is short and round—it should be vermilion; seventh, its claws are sharp and hooked; eighth, its voice is stirring and resonant; ninth, its belly has a doorway.' When Jiufang Yin evaluated horses for Duke Mu of Qin, [the horse found] was indeed a thousand-league steed. This is an analogy for Linji's spiritual excellence covering a thousand leagues in a single day. As soon as he was enlightened, he understood the true dynamic and the great function. In the various quarters there is a couplet that goes: 'A resounding slap across Huangbo's cheek; three punches beneath Dayu's ribs.' It is truly because the true wind passed through the pipes that the wondrous dynamic sprang from the pivot. The former line denotes inheriting the master's transmission; the latter line denotes the realization of one's own nature through the school. Laozi says: 'Is not the space between heaven and earth like a bellows?' The tuò is a bottomless sack, also a leather bellows; the yuè is a three-holed flute. Bajiao Che said: 'Just as lutes, harps, and dulcimers, though having wondrous sounds, can never produce them without wondrous fingers'—which originally comes from the Śūraṅgama-sūtra. 'Coming head-on, the flashing lightning is swift' speaks of his lofty dynamic and swift eloquence. 'Where deluded clouds break, the sun stands alone' speaks of his awakening and clarity. 'Stroking the tiger's whiskers'—Zhuangzi says: 'Confucius met Robber Zhi, and upon returning said: “I did what is called moxibustion without an illness. Running swiftly, I stroked the tiger's head and braided the tiger's whiskers, barely escaping the tiger's mouth!”' 'Do you see or not?' Tiantong points it out to people, causing practitioners to personally embody the complete dynamic and great function without yielding in the face of what is right, calling it the patchrobed monk's handle. When Layman Wujin wrote the Continuation to the Records of Clear Coolness, after [witnessing] prayers immediately answered, he heard of Chan Master Jietuo beating Mañjuśrī and unconsciously praised him, saying: 'Truly a great man!' Do you still see the place of Linji's enlightenment? It puts the bride of Heyang to utter shame, and startles to life the doting-grandmother Chan of the Wooden Pagoda.