景德傳燈錄 25.25

25.25

Chan Master Fa'an Huiji of the Bao'en Cloister in Jinling was a native of Taihe. He had his mind sealed in the room of Fayan. He first resided at Mount Cao's Chongshou Cloister in Fuzhou as its fourth generation. Ascending the hall, he addressed the assembly, saying: 'Knowing illusion, one immediately detaches, without employing skillful means; detaching from illusion is immediately enlightenment, likewise without gradual stages. Sthaviras, how do you understand this? Not employing skillful means and having no gradual stages—where did the ancient's intention lie? If you understand, the Buddhas will constantly manifest before you. If you do not yet understand, do not search inside the Sūtra of Complete Enlightenment! The Buddhadharma from ancient times to the present has never failed to manifest before you. Sthaviras, in all moments you all receive this majestic radiance; you must possess a great root of faith to shoulder it before you can attain it. Do you not see that the Buddha praised the fierce and sharp for saving people and being fit as vessels, and did not prize those who turn toward good and long cultivate pure karma? You must be like the fierce butcher Guang'e, who threw down his cleaver and immediately realized the fruit of an arhat. You must truly be like this before it can be attained! Therefore the Elder said: "It is like directly conferring the status of Brahmā upon an ordinary mortal."' A monk asked, 'Since the great assembly has come to the Dharma gathering, we request the master not to begrudge the mystery within the phrase.' The master said, 'Can you deceive the great assembly?' [The monk] said, 'If so, then you have fully responded to this question.' The master said, 'No need for that.' [The monk] asked, 'An ancient had a saying: "All dharmas take non-arising as their essence." What is the essence of non-arising?' The master said, 'A fine question.' [The monk] asked, 'Within the Buddhadharma, we request the master's skillful means.' The master said, 'The skillful means are already done.' [The monk] asked, 'What is the mind of the ancient Buddhas?' The master said, 'Why wait to ask south of the River?' The King of the country invited him to enter and reside at Bao'en, conferring the title 'Gatherer of the Assembly' (Shezhong). The master ascended the hall and addressed the assembly, saying: 'Today, having received the command to become abbot of this cloister and expound the Dharma for the assembly, I just saw the karmadāna strike the mallet, saying: "The dragon-and-elephant assembly at the Dharma gathering should observe the supreme truth." How fine! He commands everyone to observe the supreme truth. But what is the supreme truth? If you have penetrated it here, how much trouble is spared! Now what else could be said? That being so, having received the gracious decree, I cannot remain silent. The essential teaching of the Chan school is the natural and constant norm, perfectly clear and manifest from antiquity to the present. As for Bodhidharma coming from the west, he only gave certification to everyone; there was no Dharma to be given to people. He only said that it is directly this, bidding them to see it right where they stood. Although the ancient said to see it right where you stand, sitting right here now, can you see it or not? If you have doubts, please ask.' A monk asked, 'The profound pivot of the three virtues is expounded by the Buddha; we request the master to clarify the mysterious path of the single sound.' The master said, 'Do you say there is one, or not yet?' [The monk] asked, 'What is the environment of Bao'en?' The master said, 'Everyone sees your question.' During the Kaibao era, the master manifested extinction at this cloister.