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禪林寶訓 2.4

禪林寶訓 2.4

Language
Classical Chinese

2.4

湛堂曰。道者古今正權。善弘道者要在變通。不知變者。拘文執教滯相殢情。此皆不達權變故。僧問趙州。萬法歸一一歸何處。州云。我在青州做領布衫。重七斤。謂古人不達權變能若是之酬酢。聖人云。幽谷無私遂至斯響。洪鐘虡受扣無不應。是知通方上士。將返常合道。不守一而不應變也(與李商老書)。

Zhantang said: 'The Way is the true expediency of past and present. Those who are skilled in propagating the Way make adaptation essential. Those who do not understand adaptation are constrained by texts, cling to teachings, become stuck in signs, and are bogged down by sentiments. These all stem from failing to master expedient adaptation. A monk asked Zhaozhou, "The ten thousand dharmas return to the one; where does the one return?" Zhaozhou said, "When I was in Qingzhou, I made a hemp robe weighing seven catties." Can one say that ancients who did not master expedient adaptation could respond in this manner? The sage said: "A secluded valley has no bias, yet the echo reaches it; the great bell upon its frame, whenever struck, never fails to respond." From this we know that the superior person of universal understanding will transcend the ordinary to accord with the Way, rather than rigidly clinging to one thing and failing to respond to changes.' (Letter to Li Shanglao).

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