景德傳燈錄 22.49

22.49

Chan Master Qinghuo of Baofu Monastery in Zhangzhou was a native of Yongtai in Fuzhou. When young he was sharp and intelligent. He paid homage to National Preceptor Xingsheng of Mount Gushan, shaved his head, and received the full precepts. At first he visited Master of the Hermitage Qiru of Mount Dazhang (his words appear in full in the section on Master Qiru). Later he visited Shuilong. One day Shuilong asked him, "Ācārya Huo, what venerable elders have you visited, and have you awakened yet?" [Qinghuo] said, "Qinghuo once visited Dazhang and found a place of faith." Thereupon Shuilong ascended the hall, assembled the congregation, and called out, "We invite Ācārya Huo to step forth before the assembly, burn incense, and speak of his awakening; this old monk will confirm it for you." The Master then took up the incense and said, "The incense is already taken up; awakening is just non-awakening." Shuilong was greatly pleased and gave him his approval. Ascending the hall, [the Master] addressed the assembly, saying, "Today this mountain monk will compose a matching verse for everyone: let those who match it remain silent, and those who do not match it speak." After a short while, he added, "Whether matching or not matching, it is right at this very moment. This mountain monk has a few things to attend to. Take care." A monk asked, "When a family is poor and suffers a robbery, how is it?" The Master said, "They cannot take everything completely." [The monk] said, "Why can they not take everything completely?" The Master said, "The robber is a family relative." [The monk] said, "Since he is a family relative, why has he turned into a family thief?" The Master said, "When there is no response within, nothing can be done from without." [The monk] said, "If he is suddenly caught and defeated, to whom does the credit belong?" The Master said, "No reward has ever been heard of." [The monk] said, "In that case, it is labor without merit." The Master said, "Merit is not absent, but having succeeded, one does not dwell in it." [The monk] said, "Since it is accomplished merit, why does one not dwell in it?" The Master said, "Have you not heard it said: 'Universal peace was originally brought about by the general, but the general is not permitted to see universal peace'?" [The monk] asked, "What is the meaning of coming from the West?" The Master said, "The barbarian weeps; the Han man grieves." When the Master was about to pass away, he left the assembly, intending to enter the mountains to await extinction. Crossing the stone bridge over Ningxi, he left behind this gāthā: