續傳燈錄 25.23

25.23

台州鴻福德昇禪師。衡陽人也。上堂。諸人恁麼上來墮在見聞覺知。恁麼下去落在動靜施為。若也不去不來。正是鬼窟活計。如何道得出身底句。若也道得則分付拄杖子。若道不得依而行之。卓拄杖下座。

Chan Master Desheng of Hongfu in Taizhou was a native of Hengyang. Ascending the hall: 'All of you, coming up like this, fall into seeing, hearing, perceiving, and knowing. Going down like this, you fall into motion, stillness, action, and function. If you neither go nor come, it is truly working in a ghost's cave. How can you utter a phrase that frees the body? If you can utter it, I will entrust the staff to you; if you cannot utter it, act according to it.' Striking with the staff, he descended from the seat.