續傳燈錄 19.19

19.19

越州承天滋須禪師。姓黃氏。單州人。受業東京常興寺。深窮經論律行精持。參大通禪師言下契悟。遂住承天。示眾曰。若論此事。體之則神。敬之則靈。觀之則眼似眉毛。聽之則泥牛哮吼。言之則縮却舌頭。嗅之則塞却鼻孔。觸之則一棒一條痕。思之則針劄不入。當此之際謂之智不到處。心路絕處。亦謂之無事人安樂處。直饒千聖出興諸祖當頭亦道不著。昔日淨名居士對諸菩薩前。曾露這箇消息。次有達磨大師。於少室峯前九年為眾說法。唯有二祖親聞。自後法流沙界。承天今日向知有底人前亦有箇說處。良久曰。見麼。百味交羅明祖意。一言之下報深恩。又上堂拈起拄杖曰。見麼。明如鏡平如秤。四七二三親行此令。有眼底辨取擊禪床一下。

Chan Master Zixu of Chengtian in Yuezhou was surnamed Huang, a native of Shanzhou. He received his training at Changxing Temple in the Eastern Capital, deeply plumbing the sūtras and treatises and strictly maintaining vinaya practices. He studied under Chan Master Datong and was awakened at his words; he subsequently took up residence at Chengtian. He instructed the assembly, saying: "If one speaks of this matter: embody it and it is divine; revere it and it is numinous. Look at it, and the eyes resemble eyebrows; listen to it, and the mud ox roars. Speak of it, and the tongue contracts; sniff it, and the nostrils are blocked. Touch it, and each blow leaves a welt; contemplate it, and an iron needle cannot penetrate. At such a time, it is called the place unreachable by intellect, the place where mental paths are severed; it is also called the place of peace and joy for the person of no-affairs. Even if a thousand sages were to arise and all the patriarchs were to come forward, they could not express it. In ancient times, the Upāsaka Vimalakīrti revealed this message before all the bodhisattvas. Next, Great Master Bodhidharma expounded the Dharma for the assembly before Shaoshi Peak for nine years, and only the Second Patriarch personally heard it. Thereafter, the Dharma flowed across realms as numerous as the sands. Today Chengtian also has a place to speak before those who know it is so." After a long pause, he said, "Do you see? A hundred flavors spread interlaced make clear the Patriarch's meaning; beneath a single word, the profound debt of gratitude is repaid." He also ascended the hall, held up his staff, and said: "Do you see? Clear as a mirror, level as a balance. The four-sevens and two-threes personally enacted this command. Those with eyes, distinguish it!" He struck the meditation bench once.