景德傳燈錄 5.81

5.81

第八簡其詮旨者。然而至理無言。假文言以明其旨。旨宗非觀。藉修觀以會其宗。若旨之未明。則言之未的。若宗之未會。則觀之未深。深觀乃會其宗。的言必明其旨。旨宗既其明會。旨觀何得復存耶。

The eighth, discriminating its expression and purport: However, the ultimate principle is wordless; one borrows written words to clarify its purport. The purport and principle are not contemplation; one relies on cultivating contemplation to realize their principle. If the purport is not yet clear, the words are not accurate. If the principle is not yet realized, the contemplation is not deep. Deep contemplation realizes its principle; accurate words inevitably clarify its purport. Once purport and principle are clearly realized, how could words and contemplation still remain?