釋鑑稽古略續集 2.126

2.126

恕中禪師　諱無慍。字恕中。別號空室。臨海人也。族姓陳。母林氏。依徑山元叟端禪師出家剃度。於昭慶律寺受戒。謁靈巖芝公一元靈公。一一扣問詳切。既歸徑山居擇木寮。後見大白砥公竺元道公。以看狗子無佛話發悟。頌曰。狗子佛性無。春色滿皇都。趙州東院裏。壁上掛胡蘆。又曰。此事如魚飲水冷暖自知。決不在語言文字上也。師性愛靜隱。雖兩住名山。皆甫及三載而退。後日本國主。以水晶數珠峨山石。研為贄請命太祖。祈師往化。師以老病竟辭。弟子居頂迎師住於鄞之翠山。四方之扣謁者無虛日。求偈語者甚眾。是年七月十日。書偈曰。七十八年無法可說。末後一句露柱饒舌咄。端坐而逝。至十二月望日。葬於唐嶴之原。有二會語錄。拈雪竇拈古。續大慧竹山頌。古山菴雜錄。淨土詩偈頌等若干卷。行世。

Chan Master Shuzhong, taboo name Wuyun, styled Shuzhong, also styled Kongshi, was a native of Linhai. His clan name was Chen, and his mother was of the Lin clan. He left home and was tonsured under Chan Master Yuansou Duan of Jingshan, and received the precepts at Zhaoqing Vinaya Monastery. He visited Master Lingyan Zhi and Master Yiyuan Ling, questioning them in thorough detail on every point. Having returned to Jingshan, he lived in the Zemu Lodge. Later he saw Master Dabai Di and Master Zhuyuan Dao. He attained awakening by investigating the huatou on the dog having no buddha-nature. His verse of praise says: 'A dog has no buddha-nature; / Spring colors fill the imperial capital. / In the Eastern Courtyard of Zhaozhou, / On the wall hangs a bottle-gourd.' He also said: 'This matter is like a fish drinking water—knowing for itself whether it is cold or warm; it is never in spoken words or written letters.' By nature, the master loved quiet seclusion. Although he twice served as abbot at famous mountains, each time he retired after barely three years. Later, the Japanese ruler offered a crystal rosary and an Eshan inkstone as presentation gifts, petitioning Taizu to request that the master go to transform [his realm]. The master firmly declined on grounds of old age and illness. His disciple Juding welcomed the master to dwell at Cuishan in Yin. Visitors inquiring of him came from all quarters without an empty day, and those seeking verses of poetry were very numerous. On the tenth day of the seventh month of this year, he wrote a verse saying: 'For seventy-eight years, no Dharma to preach. / The final phrase: the bare pillar talks too much. Bah!' He passed away sitting erect. On the full moon of the twelfth month, he was buried on the plain of Tang'ao. His Discourse Records of Two Assemblies, Picked Ancient Cases of Xuedou, Continuation of Dahui's Zhushan Verses, Miscellaneous Records of Gushan Hermitage, Pure Land Poems, Verses, and Odes in several fascicles circulate in the world.