續傳燈錄 26.36

26.36

紹興府慈氏端仙禪師。本郡人。年二十去家以試經披削。習毘尼因覩戒性如虛空。持者為迷倒。師謂戒者束身之法也。何自縛乎。遂探台教。又閱諸法不自生亦不從他生不共不無因是故說無生。疑曰。又不自他不共不無因生。畢竟從何而生。即省曰。因緣所生空假三觀抑揚性海。心佛眾生名異體同。十境十乘轉識成智。不思議境智照方明。非言詮所及。棄謁諸方後至投子。廣鑑問。鄉里甚處。師曰。兩浙東越。鑑曰。東越事作麼生。師曰。秦望峯高鑑湖水闊。鑑曰。秦望峯與爾自己是同是別。師曰。西天梵語此土唐言。鑑曰。此猶是叢林祇對。畢竟是同是別。師便喝。鑑便打。師曰。恩大難酬便禮拜。後歸里開法慈氏室中。嘗問僧。三箇槖駝兩隻脚。日行萬里趁不著。而今收在玉泉山。不許時人亂斟酌。諸人向甚麼處與爾上座相見。

Chan Master Cishi Duanxian of Shaoxing Prefecture was a native of that prefecture. At the age of twenty, he left his family, had his head shaved upon passing the scripture examination, and studied the vinaya. Because he saw that 'the nature of the precepts is like empty space, and those who cling to them are deluded and confused,' the Master remarked, 'Precepts are a method for restraining the body; why bind oneself?' He then explored the Tiantai teachings. He also read: 'Dharmas are not born from themselves, nor are they born from others, nor together, nor without cause; therefore they are said to be unproduced.' Doubting this, he asked, 'If they are not born from self, others, together, or without cause, from what, ultimately, are they born?' He then had an awakening and said, 'Born of causes and conditions; the threefold contemplation of the empty and provisional raises and lowers the ocean of nature. Mind, Buddha, and sentient beings have different names but the same substance. The ten realms and ten vehicles turn consciousness into wisdom; when the wisdom of the inconceivable realm illuminates, it then becomes clear—it is not something that words and explanations can reach.' Giving up his studies, he visited masters in various regions and later arrived at Touzi. Guangjian asked, 'Where is your home prefecture?' The Master said, 'Dongyue in Liangzhe.' Jian said, 'How are affairs in Dongyue?' The Master said, 'Qinwang Peak is high; the waters of Lake Jian are broad.' Jian said, 'Are Qinwang Peak and yourself identical or different?' The Master said, 'Sanskrit words of the Western Heavens; Tang speech of this land.' Jian said, 'This is still an answer suited to the monasteries. Ultimately, are they identical or different?' The Master then gave a shout. Jian then struck him. The Master said, 'Great kindness is hard to repay,' and then made prostrations. Later he returned to his home region and opened the Dharma hall at Cishi. In the abbot's room, he once asked a monk, 'Three camels and two feet: / Traveling ten thousand li a day, they cannot be overtaken. / Now kept at Mount Yuquan, / I do not permit people of today to recklessly reckon them. / Where will all of you meet with your elder brother?'