景德傳燈錄 25.38

25.38

Chan Master Xifeng of Zhengqin Cloister in Changzhou was a native of Suzhou surnamed Xie. He resided at this cloister as its second generation. When he first ascended the hall, he instructed the assembly, saying: "The ancient sage said: 'Completely round like great empty space, lacking nothing, having nothing in excess.' It is also said: 'Each and every phenomenon, each and every school; manifold phenomena are the school of the one phenomenon.' It is also said: 'Arising is only the arising of phenomena; ceasing is only the ceasing of phenomena.' It is also said: 'When arising, it does not say "I arise"; when ceasing, it does not say "I cease."' Based on such words, it holds back sthaviras who have long been in the monasteries. If you are beginner brethren, you must just embody the Way. A human body is hard to obtain, the true Dharma is hard to hear; do not treat them lightly. The food and clothing of the almsgivers are not easily digested; if you do not understand the Way, each and every one of you must repay them. Sthaviras, do you want to understand the Way? Take care." A monk asked, "What is the meaning of the Ancestral Master's coming from the West?" The master said, "Where did you get this news?" A monk asked, "What is the empty characteristic of all phenomena?" The master said, "The mountains, rivers, and the great earth." A monk asked, "The monastic assembly gathers like clouds; please proclaim the ancestral vehicle, Master." The master said, "It was proclaimed long ago." A monk asked, "The Buddha Dharma is entrusted to kings and great ministers; what does Zhengqin entrust today?" The master said, "Long live! Long live!" A monk asked, "The ancients had a saying: 'The mountains, rivers, and the great earth are your true kalyāṇamitra.' How can one attain the mountains, rivers, and the great earth as a kalyāṇamitra?" The master said, "What do you call the mountains, rivers, and the great earth?" A monk asked, "Master, what is speech that accords with the Way?" The master said, "You ask, I answer." A monk asked, "In the assembly on Vulture Peak, Kāśyapa personally heard it. I wonder, who gets to hear it today?" The master said, "What was it that Kāśyapa personally heard?" A monk asked, "How can a student reach the bodhimanda of the ancient Buddhas?" The master said, "Where are you right now?" A monk asked, "What is the Upādhyāya's universal penetration?" The master struck the meditation bed three times. A monk asked, "What is casting off sense faculties and sense objects?" The master said, "Do not have delusional thoughts." A monk asked, "Are the King of Men and the King of Dharma one or two?" The master said, "The King of Men, the King of Dharma." A monk asked, "What is the quiescent characteristic of all phenomena?" The master said, "Arising is only the arising of phenomena; ceasing is only the ceasing of phenomena." A monk asked, "What is the phenomenon that has never been born?" The master said, "How could you know?" A monk asked, "Why did Wuzhuo not recognize Mañjuśrī when he saw him?" The master said, "Tell me, did Mañjuśrī recognize Wuzhuo?" A monk asked, "'In whose family is the new tune wonderfully understood?' Please declare a single phrase of Zhengqin, Master." The master said, "What are you saying?" The monk said, "Could there be no skillful means?" The master said, "You do not understand my words."