續傳燈錄 2.59

2.59

潭州鹿苑圭禪師桂州人也。僧問。如何是道。師曰。吳頭楚尾。曰如何是道中人。師曰。騎馬踏鐙不如步行。問如何是第一義諦。師曰。胡人讀漢書。上堂。凡有因緣須曉其宗。若曉其宗無是無不是。用則波騰海沸。全真體以運行。體則鏡淨水沈。舉隨緣而會寂。且道兜率天宮幾人行幾人坐。若向這裏辨得緇素。許爾諸人東西南北如雲似鶴。於此不明踏破草鞋未有了日在參。

Chan Master Gui of Luyuan in Yangzhou was a native of Guizhou. A monk asked, 'What is the Way?' The Master said, 'The head of Wu, the tail of Chu.' The monk said, 'What is the person within the Way?' The Master said, 'Riding a horse with feet in the stirrups is not as good as walking.' The monk asked, 'What is the supreme truth?' The Master said, 'A barbarian reading Chinese books.' Ascending the hall, [the Master said,] 'Whenever there is a nidāna, one must understand its essential purport. If one understands its essential purport, there is neither right nor wrong. In function, waves surge and the sea boils, completely operating with the true essence. In essence, the mirror is clear and the water is still, universally according with conditions while uniting with tranquility. But tell me: in the Tuṣita heaven palace, how many people are walking and how many people are sitting? If you can distinguish the black from the white right here, I allow you people to roam east, west, south, and north like clouds and cranes. If you are not clear on this, though you wear out your straw sandals, there will never be an end to your days of seeking and inquiry.'