景德傳燈錄 18.14

18.14

Chan Master Zhifu of Ehu in Xinzhou was a native of Fuzhou. At first, he relied on lecture halls to pursue his studies in Chang'an. Because he pondered the principle of the profound ultimate, he went to Xuefeng and served him as his master for several years. Having grasped the mind-instruction, he stayed at Ehu according with conditions, greatly spreading the Dharma assembly. A monk asked, "The ten thousand dharmas return to the one; where does the one return?" The Master said, "It is not only the Ācārya who is busy." [A monk] asked, "When empty space preaches the sūtras, what is taken as the principal theme?" The Master said, "The Ācārya is not one of the audience; get out." [A monk] asked, "Does a son guilty of the five heinous deeds still accept his father's restraint?" The Master said, "Although he has self-determination, he cannot avoid harming himself." [A monk] asked, "What is a person who transcends the Buddhas?" The Master said, "I well know the Ācārya can do nothing with him." [The monk] said, "Why can one do nothing with him?" The Master said, "A child does not necessarily get to see an exemplary person." Someone reported, "The Upādhyāya of Jingshan has passed away." A monk asked, "Jingshan has passed away; where has he gone?" The Master said, "There are plenty of clever ones who surpass the Ācārya." [A monk] asked, "Please, Master, speak the preceding phrase." The Master said, "What are you probing for under your heels?" [The monk] said, "I am asking right now." The Master said, "I see that the Ācārya cannot transform his body." [A monk] asked, "What was Xuefeng's intention in throwing down the staff?" The Master threw an incense spoon to the ground. The monk said, "I wonder what this intention is?" The Master said, "Not a good seed; get out!" [A monk] asked, "What is Ehu's first phrase?" The Master said, "What did you say?" [The monk] said, "What is it then?" The Master said, "You hinder my nap." [A monk] asked, "When there is neither asking nor answering, how is it?" The Master said, "How could one who asks know?" [A monk] asked, "How is it when the lost child has not yet returned home?" The Master said, "Not on the road." [The monk] said, "How is it after returning?" The Master said, "Just when he is lost." [A monk] asked, "What is the matter of the source?" The Master said, "What are you seeking on the road?" [A monk] asked, "What is the one phrase?" The Master said, "Do you understand?" [The monk] said, "Is being like this not precisely it?" The Master said, "Blue heaven, blue heaven!" Jingqing asked, "What is that of the immediate present?" The Master said, "Why still speak of the immediate present?" Qing said, "I almost had to support it." The Master said, "The words are contrary, but the speech is compliant."