緇門警訓 4.46

4.46

天台智者大師云。何不絕語言置文字。破一微塵出大千經卷。一微塵者。眾生妄念也。大千經卷者。眾生佛性也。眾生佛性為妄念所覆。妄念若破則佛性現前。此老人為固執文字語言者。興此歎也。此亦是金鎞刮膜之義。他日眼開方知得力。

Great Master Tiantai Zhiyi said: 'Why not cut off speech and put aside written words, crush a single mote of dust and bring forth the sūtra scroll of the great chiliocosm?' The single mote of dust is the delusive thought of sentient beings; the sūtra scroll of the great chiliocosm is the Buddha nature of sentient beings. The Buddha nature of sentient beings is covered by delusive thoughts; if delusive thoughts are shattered, the Buddha nature manifests before them. This old master gave voice to this lament for the sake of those who obstinately cling to written words and speech. This also has the meaning of the golden probe scraping away the film; only when one's eyes open on a future day will one know its efficacy.