續傳燈錄 31.37

31.37

待制潘良貴居士字義榮。年四十回心祖闈。所至挂鉢隨眾參扣。後依佛燈久之不契。因訴曰。某秖欲死去時如何。燈曰。好箇封皮且留著使用。而今不了不當。後去忽被他換却封皮卒無整理處。公又以南泉斬猫兒話問曰。某看此甚久終未透徹。告和尚慈悲。燈曰。爾秖管理會別人家猫兒。不知走却自家狗子。公於言下如醉醒。燈復曰。不易公進此一步。更須知有向上事始得。如今士大夫說禪說道。秖依著義理便快活。大率似將錢買油餈喫了便不饑。其餘便道是瞞他亦可笑也。公唯唯。

Edict Attendant Upāsaka Pan Lianggui, styled Yirong, at the age of forty turned his mind toward the Patriarchs' gate. Wherever he went, he hung his bowl and followed the assembly to inquire and study. Later he relied on Fodeng, but for a long time did not attain realization. He then complained, 'What if I just want to die?' Deng said, 'A fine skin bag—keep it for now to use. If you do not resolve it now and do not take responsibility, later on it will suddenly be exchanged for another skin bag by someone else, and in the end there will be nowhere to put things in order.' The gentleman also asked about Nanquan's slaying of the cat: 'I have contemplated this for a very long time, but still have not penetrated it thoroughly. I beg the Upādhyāya for compassion.' Deng said, 'You only concern yourself with other people's cats, unaware that your own dog has run away.' At these words, the gentleman was like one waking from drunkenness. Deng said further, 'It was not easy for you to take this step forward; you must further realize the matter of transcendence to truly attain it. Nowadays, scholar-officials talk of Chan and speak of the Way; they only rely on literal principles and feel satisfied. It is largely like using money to buy fried sesame cakes and eating them so one is no longer hungry; as for the rest, saying they are deceiving others is truly laughable.' The gentleman answered respectfully.