佛祖歷代通載 13.38

13.38

（二十七）　十二月。青原行思禪師示寂。吉州安城人也。姓劉氏。幼年出家。初見六祖。問當何所務即不落階級。祖曰。汝曾作什麼。師曰。聖諦亦不為。祖曰。落何階級。師曰。聖諦尚不為。何階級之有。祖深器之。及居青原。有沙彌希遷者。見師。師云。子何方而來。曰曹溪。師曰。將得什麼來。曰未到曹溪亦不失。師曰。恁麼則用去曹溪作什麼。曰若不到曹溪爭知不失。遷問。曹溪還識和尚不。師曰。汝今識吾不。曰識又爭識得。師曰。眾角雖多一麟足矣。他日又問遷。汝什麼處來。曰曹溪。師乃竪起拂子云。曹溪還有這个麼。曰非但曹溪。西天亦無。師曰。子莫曾到西天不。曰若到即有也。師曰。未在更道。曰和尚也須道取一半。莫全靠學人。師曰。不辭向汝道。恐已後無人承當。又令遷往南岳和尚處下書曰。汝達書了速回。吾與汝个鈯斧子住山。遷至彼未呈書。便問。不重己靈不求諸聖時如何。讓曰。子問太高生。何不向下問。遷曰。寧可永劫沈輪。不慕諸聖解脫。讓便休。遷回。師問。子返甚速。書達不。遷曰。信亦不通。書亦不達。師曰。作麼生。遷舉前話了便云。去時蒙和上許鈯斧子。便請。師垂下一足。遷禮謝。辭往石頭。即石頭和上是也。及是師既歸寂。門人咸尊為七祖焉。

(Twenty-seventh year) In the twelfth month, Chan Master Xingsi of Qingyuan manifested extinction. He was a native of Ancheng in Jizhou, surnamed Liu. He left home in his youth. When he first met the Sixth Patriarch, he asked, 'What should one engage in so as not to fall into stages?' The Patriarch said, 'What have you been doing?' The Master said, 'I do not even practice the noble truths.' The Patriarch said, 'What stages do you fall into?' The Master said, 'If I do not even practice the noble truths, what stages could there be?' The Patriarch deeply valued his capacity. When he resided at Qingyuan, there was a novice named Xiqian who came to see the Master. The Master said, 'Where do you come from?' He replied, 'From Caoxi.' The Master said, 'What have you brought along?' He replied, 'What was not lost even before going to Caoxi.' The Master said, 'If so, what was the use of going to Caoxi?' He replied, 'If I had not gone to Caoxi, how could I know it was not lost?' Xiqian asked, 'Does Caoxi recognize the Upādhyāya?' The Master said, 'Do you recognize me now?' He replied, 'Even if I recognized you, how could I truly recognize you?' The Master said, 'Though horns are many, a single unicorn is enough.' Another day, he again asked Xiqian, 'Where do you come from?' He replied, 'From Caoxi.' The Master then held up his fly-whisk and said, 'Does Caoxi have this?' He replied, 'Not only does Caoxi not have it, even in the Western Heavens it does not exist.' The Master said, 'Could it be that you have never been to the Western Heavens?' He replied, 'If I had gone, it would exist.' The Master said, 'Not yet; speak further.' He replied, 'The Upādhyāya must also speak half of it; do not rely entirely on your student.' The Master said, 'I do not refuse to speak to you, but I fear that later on there will be no one to take responsibility for it.' He also ordered Xiqian to deliver a letter to Master Nanyue, saying, 'Once you have delivered the letter, return quickly; I will give you a blunt axe to live in the mountains.' When Xiqian arrived there, before presenting the letter, he directly asked, 'How is it when one does not value one's own spirit and does not seek the various sages?' Rang said, 'Your question is too lofty. Why do you not ask downward?' Xiqian said, 'I would rather sink in saṃsāra for eternal kalpas than yearn for the liberation of the various sages.' Rang fell silent. When Xiqian returned, the Master asked, 'You came back very quickly. Did the letter reach him?' Xiqian said, 'The message was not conveyed, nor was the letter delivered.' The Master said, 'How so?' Xiqian recounted the previous dialogue and said, 'When I left, the Upādhyāya promised me a blunt axe; please give it to me.' The Master lowered one foot. Xiqian bowed in gratitude, took his leave, and went to Shitou; this was Master Shitou. When the Master passed into extinction, his disciples all revered him as the Seventh Patriarch.