續傳燈錄 16.10

16.10

蘄州四祖山法演禪師桂州人也。僧問。如何是心相。師曰。山河大地。曰如何是心體。師曰。汝喚甚麼作山河大地。上堂葉辭柯秋已暮。參玄人須警悟。莫謂來年更有春。等閑蹉了岩前路。且道作麼生是岩前路。良久曰。嶮。上堂主山吞却案山。尋常言論拄杖子。普該塵剎未足為奇。光境兩亡復是何物。良久曰。劫火洞然毫末盡。青山依舊白雲中。上堂。佛祖之道壁立千仞。擬議馳求還同點額。識不能識智不能知。古聖到這裏垂一言半句。要爾諸人有箇入處。所以道。低頭不見地。仰面不見天。欲識白牛處。但看髑髏前。如今頭上是屋脚下是地面前是佛殿。且道。白牛在甚麼處。乃召大眾。眾舉頭。師叱之。

Chan Master Fayan of Mount Sizushan in Qizhou was a native of Guizhou. A monk asked, 'What are the characteristics of mind?' The Master said, 'Mountains, rivers, and the great earth.' The monk said, 'What is the substance of mind?' The Master said, 'What do you call mountains, rivers, and the great earth?' Ascending the hall, he said, 'Leaves leave the branches; autumn is already late. Those who investigate the mysterious must be alert and awakened. Do not say there will be another spring next year, carelessly missing the path before the cliff. And tell me, what is the path before the cliff?' After a long pause, he said, 'Perilous!' Ascending the hall, he said, 'The master mountain swallows up the table mountain—ordinary talk and the staff pervade all dusty realms, which is not yet wondrous enough. When both light and boundary are annihilated, what is it again?' After a long pause, he said, 'The kalpa fire burns completely, and every tip of hair is exhausted; / The green mountain remains as ever amidst the white clouds.' Ascending the hall, he said, 'The Way of the Buddhas and Patriarchs stands like a wall a thousand fathoms high. To deliberate and seek after it is just like a fish hitting its forehead. Consciousness cannot discern it; wisdom cannot know it. The ancient sages, arriving here, dropped a word or half a phrase, wanting you all to have a point of entry. Therefore it is said: / "Lowering the head, one does not see the ground; / Raising the face, one does not see the sky. / If you wish to know the place of the white ox, / Just look before the skull." / Now above your heads is the roof, beneath your feet is the ground, and in front of you is the Buddha hall. And tell me: where is the white ox?' He then addressed the assembly. The assembly raised their heads. The Master scolded them.