景德傳燈錄 26.68

26.68

Chan Master Yu'an of Guangqing Temple in Hangzhou was a native of Qiantang. His surname was Shen. In his youth he left home, and at the Peak of Huading on Mount Tiantai, he went to the hermitage master Chongxiao, where he had his head shaved, and upon reaching the proper age, he received the full precepts. Soon he encountered State Preceptor Shao of the same mountain and secretly accorded with the ancestral purpose. During the Qiande era, King Zhongyi of Wuyue ordered him to dwell at Qingxin Courtyard at the Northern Barrier. He was also summoned to dwell at Tianlong Temple. In the seventh year of the Kaibao era, the year jiaxu, King Anxi invited him to lead the assembly at Guangqing Temple, and granted him the title Chan Master Shanzhi. When he first ascended the hall, a monk asked, "The priceless jewel—we request the master to hand it over." The master said, "You are well able to express it." The monk said, "If so, then everyone is fully endowed with it." The master said, "Where is the jewel?" The monk then bowed. The master said, "This too is empty talk." A monk asked, "To lift the main cord and take hold of the collar establishes host and guest throughout. What is the host?" The master said, "I deeply understand this question." The monk said, "What is the guest?" The master said, "What did I say to you just now?" The monk said, "How is it when host and guest accord with each other in the Way?" The master said, "The order is not carried out." A monk asked, "The solitary and round moon of the mind shines and swallows the myriad forms. What is the light that swallows the myriad forms?" The master said, "The great assembly all see you acting like this." The monk asked, "'The light swallows the myriad forms' comes from the master's word; what is the meaning of 'the solitary and round moon of the mind'?" The master said, "Rouse your spirit!" The monk said, "When an egret rests in a snowy nest, it can still be distinguished; but that the light swallows the myriad forms is hard to make clear." The master said, "Politely withdraw." A monk asked, "The green mountains and the green waters are everywhere distinct and clear. We beg the venerable monk for a single phrase of his house style." The master said, "It has been completely spoken by you." The monk said, "It may not be like this; we request the master to reply." The master said, "No need for idle words." Another monk was just bowing. The master said, "Question and answer are both complete." The monk was about to offer a question, but the master scolded him. The master occasionally addressed the assembly, saying: "If you wish to know the purpose of Caoxi: / Clouds flying over the mountain before you. / Distinctly clear and genuine, / There is no need to pursue anything else." A monk asked, "I take note that an ancient worthy said, 'Red dust arises at the bottom of the well; waves surge on top of the mountain.' I do not yet understand what this meaning is." The master said, "If you go to the various quarters, just ask it like this." The monk said, "What is the venerable monk's intention?" The master said, "What did I say to you just now?" The master further said, "From antiquity to the present, transmission has always maintained: 'Dust arises at the bottom of the well, and waves surge on the mountain top; flowers in the sky bear fruit, and a barren woman gives birth to a son.' Now tell me, how do you understand this? Could it be adapting to the sound to present the matter, approaching objects to reveal the mind, concealing an edge within the phrase, and revealing it entirely before the voice? Could it be that there are names without substance, strange tunes and profound discourses? If the sthavira understands it himself, then he grasps the ancient's intention. If not, since you cannot understand it like this, how should you understand it? Sthavira, do you want to understand it? Just observe: where the mud ox walks, the mirage churns up waves; when the wooden horse neighs, flowers in the sky cast shadows. Sacred and mundane are like this; the principle is distinct and clear. Why need you stand long? Take care!" In the third year of the Taiping Xingguo era, following the precious pagoda, he was granted an audience at the Zifu Hall. He was bestowed the purple robe and the title Great Master Langzhi. Early in the Chunhua era, he returned to the old Guangqing Temple. On the twenty-first day of the ninth month of the third year, he returned to silence.