續傳燈錄 17.48

17.48

江陵府護國慧本禪師。僧問。有物先天地。無形本寂寥。未審是甚麼物。師曰。一鋌墨。曰恁麼則耀古照今去也。師曰。作麼生是耀古照今底。僧便喝。師便打。上堂。好箇時節誰肯承當。苟或無人不如惜取。良久曰。彈雀夜明珠。

Chan Master Huiben of Huguo in Jiangling Prefecture. A monk asked, "'There is a thing prior to heaven and earth, formless, fundamentally tranquil.' I wonder, what thing is this?" The master said, "A stick of ink." The monk said, "In that case, it shines on the past and illuminates the present." The master said, "What is that which shines on the past and illuminates the present?" The monk then shouted. The master then struck him. Ascending the hall, [the master said], "At such a fine moment, who is willing to undertake it? If there is no one, it were better to cherish it." After a pause, he said, "A night-glowing pearl [wasted] on slinging at sparrows."