宗鏡錄 6.4

6.4

Answer: As our Original Teacher said: "The dharma obtained by the Tathāgata at the place of the Way is neither dharma nor non-dharma. In this dharma, wisdom cannot walk, eyes cannot see, and there is no place to proceed. Prajñā cannot penetrate it, clarity cannot comprehend it, and questions have no answers." Moreover, an ancient said: "This matter seems empty yet is not empty, seems to exist yet does not exist; faintly, it is constantly seen, but seeking its location is impossible." Therefore, if it were definitely empty, it would fall into the view of annihilation; if it were truly existing, it would fall into ordinary sentiment; if it had a location, it would become an object. Thus we know this matter is not measured by the mind, nor known by wisdom. As Venerable Xiangyan's verse says:
"Deliberating before and after,
Arranging middle and sides;
Not grasping a single dharma,
Drowning in a deep spring.
None of it is like this:
Me and mine appear before me.
Students of the ten directions,
How do you practice Chan?"
If the Way is like this, how could it be understood? Therefore, an ancient said: "One must directly have a marvelous understanding; only then will one get it." This is an understanding of non-understanding, marvelously tallying with it. Thus the verse on awakening to the Way by a former sage says:
"The minds of existence and non-existence, coming and going, are eternally stilled;
Inside, outside, and the middle are entirely non-existent.
If you wish to see the Tathāgata's true Buddha place,
Just watch the stone sheep give birth to a colt."
After reaching such marvelous comprehension, even the Way does not remain; how could one further discuss knowledge and understanding, the false thoughts of understanding or not understanding? As an ancient worthy's verse says:
"I urge you in studying the Way not to greedily seek;
When citta-less in the myriad affairs, you tally with the Way.
Only when citta-less do you realize the citta-less Way;
Having realized the citta-less, the Way also ceases."
The late Venerable Dongshan's verse says:
"Even this is not it;
How much less Zhang the Third or Li the Fourth?
True emptiness and non-emptiness,
When brought forth, do not resemble it.
Distinctly as before one's eyes,
Not allowing a hair's breadth of deliberation."
Just as it says that "even this is not it," how much less any other wild faculties and erroneous understandings! Therefore, a sūtra says: "Mind is not bound to the Way, nor does it form karma." Even the Way is not bound to it; things below this can be known. Entering into the Mirror of the Source, one will naturally unite with it.