景德傳燈錄 25.28

25.28

Chan Master Daochang of Dazhi Cloister on Mount Baizhang in Hongzhou went forth from home at this mountain, shaving his head under Chan Master Zhaoming. Soon afterwards, he visited Jinghui and was admitted into his abbot's quarters. Due to seeking further instruction, he asked, 'A non-Buddhist asked the Buddha: "I do not ask about the spoken; I do not ask about the unspoken."' Before he finished speaking, Jinghui said, 'Stop, stop! You intend to understand it at the World-Honoured One's remaining silent for a while.' From this, the master had an awakening. Later, his home mountain invited him back to be abbot, becoming the eleventh generation; his students were exceptionally numerous. Ascending the hall, the master instructed the assembly, saying: 'Riding this jewel carriage directly to the bodhimanda, every day I trouble you sthaviras to visit; there is nothing with which to entertain you. The weather is cold, no need to stand for long. Please turn your carriages back. Take care.' A monk asked, 'What is the student's business of travelling on foot?' The master said, 'Have you snapped your staff yet?' [The monk] asked, 'An ancient had a saying: "Śākyamuni is a fellow student with me." I wonder whom he studied with?' The master said, 'Only a fellow student can know.' [The monk] said, 'I wonder how one should draw close to this person?' The master said, 'If so, then you do not understand how to study.' [The monk] asked, 'What is the Patriarch's meaning of coming from the west?' The master said, 'Often people fail to hit upon it when asking.' [The monk] asked, 'How does one sing the tune of returning home?' The master said, 'Even if sung, it falls behind you.' [The monk] asked, 'What is the environment of Baizhang?' The master said, 'How is it compared to Yunju?' [The monk] asked, 'What is Baizhang's phrase for helping people?' The master said, 'If you go to the various regions, you must ask them all.' The master also addressed the assembly, saying: 'Truly there is nothing the matter; let each sthavira serve the Buddha on his own. What further doubt is there that brings you here? An ancient only said: "Gathering together from the ten directions, each and every one studies non-action. This is the arena for selecting Buddhas; emptying the mind, one passes the examination and returns home." Emptying the mind is passing the examination. But how do you understand emptying the mind? It is not closing your eyes and sitting coldly there that is emptying the mind; that is precisely the ideational understanding of the consciousness aggregate. Sthaviras, do you wish to empty the mind? Just know the mind! Therefore it is said: "The past has already passed; do not calculate the future any more. Sitting silently with nothing the matter, when was there ever anyone calling you?" Suppose someone calls you, sthavira: is it good to answer, or good not to answer? If you answer, who is calling you, sthavira? If you do not answer, you do not suffer from deafness. The substance of the three times is empty, yet it is not a block of wood. Therefore an ancient said: "Emptying the mind, one gets to see the Dharma King." Do you see the Dharma King? It is only an old and sick monk. Or could it be that he is boasting of himself? Take care!' A monk asked, 'What is the Buddha?' The master said, 'How many matters do you have that you do not ask about?' A monk brought up: 'Someone asked Xuansha, "I do not ask about the three vehicles and twelve divisions of the teachings; what is the Patriarch's meaning of coming from the west?" Xuansha said, "The three vehicles and twelve divisions of the teachings are not needed."' The monk did not understand, and requested the master to explain it for him. The master said, 'Do you truly not understand?' [The monk] said, 'I truly do not understand.' The master gave a verse, saying: