景德傳燈錄 14.45

14.45

Chan Master Yizhong of Sanping in Zhangzhou was a native of Fuzhou, surnamed Yang. At first he studied under Shigong. Shigong would regularly draw his bow and nock an arrow to await students. When the master arrived at the Dharma seat, Shigong said: "Watch the arrow!" The master pushed open his chest and said: "This is an arrow that kills people. What about an arrow that brings people to life?" Shigong then plucked the bowstring three times. The master made a bow. Shigong said: "Thirty years with one bow and two arrows, and I have only managed to shoot half a sage!" He then snapped the bow and arrow. The master later brought this up to Dadian. Dadian said: "Since it is an arrow that brings people to life, why discern it on the bowstring?" The master had no reply. Dadian said: "Thirty years from now, to want someone to bring up this story will also be difficult." The master later studied under Dadian, and went to Zhangzhou to reside at Mount Sanping. Addressing the assembly, he said: "Nowadays, those who come forth all learn to run about seeking and bustling around, taking that to be their own eyes—what does that match up to? Do you want to study? You need nothing else. Each of you has your own fundamental matter; why not realize it? Why are your minds in turmoil and your mouths muttering? What benefit is there? Speak clearly! If you want the path of practice and the conversion gates established by the various sages, the texts of the Great Canon exist of themselves. If it is the matter of the ancestral school, you must definitely not misuse your mind." At that time, a monk came forward and asked: "Is there still a path to learn?" The master said: "There is a single path, slippery as moss." The monk said: "Can a student tread upon it?" The master said: "Without conceiving a thought, look for yourself." Someone asked: "How is it when the black beans have not yet sprouted?" The master said: "Even the Buddha does not know." A lecturing monk asked: "I have no doubts about the three vehicles and twelve divisions of teachings. What is the meaning of the ancestral master coming from the West?" The master said: "A whisk of turtle hair, a staff of rabbit horns—where do you hide them, Bhadanta?" The monk said: "How could turtle hair and rabbit horns exist?" The master said: "A thousand catties of flesh, not a grain's weight of wisdom." The master also addressed the assembly, saying: "If you have not yet met a kalyāṇamitra, it will not do. If you have met an adept, you should realize a bit of the intended meaning, and go off into the crags and valleys eating berries and wearing grass garments; only going in this manner will there be a slight degree of accord. If you run about seeking intellectual understanding of meanings and phrases, you are heading ten thousand miles away from your homeland. Take care."