續傳燈錄 19.11

19.11

東京慧林常悟禪師。僧問。若不傳法度眾生。舉世無由報恩者。未審傳箇甚麼法。師曰。開宗明義章第一。問達磨未來時如何。師曰。省得草鞋錢。曰來後如何。師曰。重疊關山路。

Chan Master Changwu of Huilin in the Eastern Capital. A monk asked: "'If one does not transmit the Dharma to liberate sentient beings, no one in the world can repay the debt of gratitude.' I wonder what Dharma you transmit?" The master said: "'Opening the Lineage and Clarifying the Meaning,' Chapter One." The monk asked: "What about before Bodhidharma came?" The master said: "Saving the expense of straw sandals." The monk said: "What about after he came?" The master said: "Layer upon layer of passes and mountain roads."