黃檗山斷際禪師傳心法要 1.18

1.18

問如何得不落階級。師云。終日喫飯未曾咬著一粒米。終日行未曾踏著一片地。與摩時無人我等相。終日不離一切事。不被諸境惑。方名自在人。更時時念念不見一切相。莫認前後三際。前際無去今際無住後際無來。安然端坐任運不拘。方名解脫。努力努力。此門中千人萬人。只得三箇五箇。若不將為事。受殃有日在。故云。著力今生須了却。誰能累劫受餘殃。

A question was asked: "How can one avoid falling into gradual stages?" The Master said: "Eating rice all day long without having bitten into a single grain of rice; walking all day long without having stepped on a piece of ground. At such a time, there are no characteristics of self, other, and the like. Not departing from any activities all day long, yet not being deluded by any sensory realms—only this is called an autonomous person. Furthermore, at all times and in every thought, see no characteristics whatsoever. Do not acknowledge the three periods of before and after: the prior period has no departure, the present period has no dwelling, and the later period has no arrival. Peacefully sitting upright, acting at ease without restraint—only this is called vimukti. Strive! Strive! Within this gate, out of thousands or tens of thousands of people, only three or five attain it. If you do not treat this as a serious matter, the day will come when you suffer calamity. Therefore it is said: 'Exert your efforts to settle it in this life; who can endure the remaining calamity for kalpas upon kalpas?'"