續傳燈錄 22.31

22.31

桂州壽寧善資禪師上堂。若論此事如鵶啄鐵牛。無下口處無用心處。更向言中問覓句下尋思。縱饒卜度將來。翻成戲論邊事。殊不知。本來具足直下分明。佛及眾生纖毫不立。尋常向諸人道。凡夫具足聖人法。凡夫不知。聖人具足凡夫法。聖人不會。聖人若會即同凡夫。凡夫若知即是聖人。然則凡聖一致名相互陳。不識本源迷其真覺。所以逐境生心徇情附物。苟能一念情忘自然真常體露。良久曰。便請薦取。上堂。諸方五日一參。壽寧日日陞座莫怪重說偈言。過在西來達磨。上士處處逢渠。後學時時蹉過。且道蹉過一著落在甚麼處。舉起拂子曰。一片月生海。幾家人上樓。

Chan Master Shanzi of Shouning in Guizhou ascended the hall: "If this matter is discussed, it is like a crow pecking at an iron ox: nowhere to bite, nowhere to apply the mind. If you go further into words to seek, or ponder beneath phrases, even if you could calculate it out, it would only turn into an affair of frivolous conceptual elaboration. Little do you know that originally it is fully endowed and clearly manifest right on the spot; neither Buddhas nor sentient beings are established by a single hairsbreadth. I usually say to you all: ordinary people are fully endowed with the phenomena of sages, but ordinary people do not know it; sages are fully endowed with the phenomena of ordinary people, but sages do not understand it. If a sage understood it, he would be the same as an ordinary person; if an ordinary person knew it, he would be a sage. Thus, ordinary and sage are of one consistency; names and forms mutually unfold. Not recognizing the original source, one is confused about true enlightenment; therefore, pursuing objects, mind arises; giving in to sentiments, one attaches to things. If only in a single thought sentiments can be forgotten, naturally the true and eternal essence is revealed." After a long pause, he said, "Please immediately comprehend it." Ascending the hall: "Everywhere they have interviews once every five days; Shouning ascends the seat every day. Do not blame me for repeating verses; the fault lies with Bodhidharma coming from the West. Superior men encounter him everywhere; beginners miss him at every moment. Tell me, missing this one move—where does it land?" Raising his whisk, he said, "A crescent of moon rises from the sea; / How many families go up to the upper floor?"