景德傳燈錄 5.39

5.39

Chan Master Zhichang of Xinzhou was a native of Guixi in the same prefecture. In his childhood he left home, aspiring to see his nature. One day he visited the Sixth Patriarch. The Patriarch asked: "Where have you come from, and what do you seek?" The Master said: "I recently went to Mount Baifeng in Jianchang County, Hongzhou, to pay homage to Upādhyāya Datong. I received his instruction on the meaning of seeing one's nature and becoming a Buddha, but my lingering doubts were not resolved. Reaching Jizhou, I met someone who pointed out my delusion and told me to visit the Upādhyāya. I humbly pray you will deign to extend compassion and accept me." The Patriarch said: "What words did he have? Try quoting them to me, and I will verify them for you." The Master said: "When I first arrived there, for three months I received no instruction. Because of my urgency for the Dharma, in the middle of the night I entered the abbot's quarters alone, bowed, and pleaded with him. Datong then said: 'Do you see empty space?' I replied, 'I see it.' He said: 'Do you see empty space having any appearance?' I replied: 'Empty space has no form; what appearance could it have?' He said: 'Your original nature is just like empty space. Turning to observe your self-nature, there is completely not a single thing to be seen—this is called right view. There is not a single thing to be known—this is called true knowledge. There is neither blue nor yellow, long nor short; merely seeing the original source to be pure and the substance of awakening perfectly luminous is called seeing nature and becoming a Buddha; it is also called the realm of ultimate bliss, and the vision and knowledge of the Tathāgata.' Although I heard this explanation, I am still not clear and resolved. I beg the Upādhyāya to instruct me so that there is no obstruction." The Patriarch said: "Because what that teacher said still retains seeing and knowing, it caused you not to understand clearly. I shall now show you a gāthā:"