景德傳燈錄 10.44

10.44

Chan Master Xian of Lingjiu in Chizhou addressed the assembly, saying: “This is the fundamental matter of all of you. If you have this old monk speak of it, that would be drawing feet on a snake. This is the sudden teaching, venerable sthaviras.”
A monk thereupon asked: “Not asking about drawing feet on a snake, what is the fundamental matter?”
The master said: “Ācārya, try speaking of it and see.”
The monk was about to ask again, but the master said: “Why draw feet?”
Upādhyāya Mingshui asked: “What is suddenly attaining the Dharma-body?”
The master said: “Once leaping over the Dragon Gate, one gazes beyond the clouds; do not become a fish in the Yellow River that only gets its forehead bruised.”
Yangshan asked: “When all is completely still and silent, how does one see and hear?”
The master said: “In front of the seamless stūpa there is much rain.”
A monk asked: “How is it when neither side speaks?”
The master said: “It is the constant.”
The monk said: “Is there still something that surpasses the constant?”
The master said: “There is.”
The monk said: “Please, Master, sing it out.”
The master said: “The dark pearl shines radiantly of itself; why need light from beyond the wall?”
A monk asked: “Today we make offerings to Great Master Wuran of Xichuan. I wonder whether the Great Master will come or not?”
The master said: “From the beginning he has never arrived anywhere; would he today turn with the wind?”
The monk said: “If so, then what is the use of making offerings?”
The master said: “Effort in conditioned action does not exchange with the truth, yet their senses interpenetrate.”