萬松老人評唱天童覺和尚頌古從容庵錄 6.82

6.82

Case: Jiufeng was serving as attendant at Shishuang. After Shishuang passed away, the assembly wished to invite the head monk in the hall to succeed him as abbot (he would do well to emulate [Huineng's] having no trick; he should not be like Shenxiu wiping away dust). Jiufeng did not agree and said, "Wait until I have questioned him. If he understands the late master's meaning, I will serve him as I served the late master (seeing injustice on the road)." He then asked, "The late master said: 'Cease and desist (why expend effort?), let one thought be ten thousand years (a fellow who forgets what went before and loses what came after), be as cold ashes and withered wood (what breath is there?), be as a single strip of white silk (strictly avoid dotting or staining it).' Now tell me: what side of things did this illumine? (He only wants nothing to be the matter)." The head monk said, "It illumines the side of the one color. (They have become two sorts now)." Jiufeng said, "If so, then you have not yet understood the late master's meaning. (Once authority is in one's hand!)." The head monk said, "You do not agree with me? Bring incense here! (Indeed he does not understand)." The head monk then lit the incense and said, "If I do not understand the late master's meaning, then as the incense smoke rises, I will be unable to depart in sitting." (His breath is cut short enough to kill a man). As soon as he finished speaking, he departed in sitting (what place is this to depart like this?). Jiufeng then patted his back and said, "Departing sitting or passing away standing—that is not lacking (casting off the body is still relatively easy); but the late master's meaning you have not seen even in a dream (speaking while shedding the bodily substance must be difficult)."