續傳燈錄 3.5.3

3.5.3

Xuansha once went to see Xuefeng. Xuefeng said, "What was the underlying intent?" The Master said, "All his life he did not step outside the mountain range." A monk asked, "Are the Patriarch's intent and the teachings' intent the same or different?" The Master said, "The horse has the gratitude of letting fall the reins; the dog has the kindness of tucking in grass." The monk said, "Then there is no difference?" The Master said, "Western India, Eastern Land." A monk asked, "What is the student's own self?" The Master said, "Cracking the bone and extracting the marrow." He ascended the hall and said: "Entering the water, one sees a tall person. Take care." He ascended the hall and said: "Facing west, walking towards the east; the Northern Dipper is precisely leaving its palace. Speaking of going, when did one ever go? The cowherd boy rides the ox lying down. Take care." He ascended the hall and said: "Spring sprouting and summer growing I do not ask about. What do you people say about the phrase under your heels?" After a long pause, he said, "The abbot of Huaguang Monastery." He then stepped down from the seat. He ascended the hall and said: "When medicines are many, sickness is severe; when the net is fine, fish are crowded." He then stepped down from the seat. He gave an instruction to the assembly: striking the meditation couch once with his staff, he said, "Does the great assembly understand? Have you not heard it said: 'With one strike, what was known is forgotten; no more need for cultivation and maintenance. Those of all quarters who have attained the Way all call it the supreme capacity.' When Xiangyan was awakened in this manner, he clearly awakened to the Tathāgata Zen. But the Patriarch Zen he had not yet seen even in a dream. And tell me, what special merit does the Patriarch Zen have? If you seek a model within words, you will mislead later generations; even if you accept it under the blow of the stick, you fail the ancient sages. The myriad dharmas are inherently at leisure; it is only people who agitate themselves. Therefore, when this mountain monk lived at Fuyan, I saw only the realm of Fuyan: waking late and sleeping early, at times clouds rising from the blue peaks and the moon setting into the cold pool; musical birds flying and singing before the Prajñā Terrace; śāla flowers scattering fragrance beside Zhurong Peak; holding a slender cane, sitting on a flat rock, occasionally talking of the dark subtleties with patch-robed monks of the five lakes. With dust on my head and dirt on my face, when dwelling at Xinghua, I saw only the house style of Xinghua: welcoming and seeing off; the gate connected with the city, carriages and horses bustling; fishermen singing by the Xiao and Xiang rivers, apes crying at Yuelu; strings and flutes, songs and melodies entering the ears from time to time; furthermore, conversing daily on Zen and the Way with noble people from the four seas, completely forgetting the months and years. And tell me, between dwelling in deep mountains and staying in city walls, is there superior and inferior or not? Try and say it!" After a long pause, he said, "Every place is Maitreya; there is no gate and no Sudhana." A monk asked, "What happens when one travels on pilgrimage without meeting anyone?" The Master said, "The fishing line coils through the water." A monk asked, "Searching branches and picking leaves I do not ask about; what is cutting straight to the root source?" The Master said, "The wild-chestnut staff." The monk asked, "What is the meaning?" The Master said, "Walking, it carries on the shoulder the clouds-and-water patch-robe; sitting down, it is held steadily in the palm." A monk asked, "Since they are good spirits protecting the Dharma, why do they draw bows and nock arrows?" The Master said, "Propriety defends against the superior person." A monk asked, "What is the Buddha?" The Master said, "Having money, spend money." He ascended the hall and said: "The Patriarch's mind-seal: one impression seals space; one impression seals water; one impression seals mud. Nowadays, is there anyone who cannot be sealed? Try to say a phrase from under your heels! Even if you can say it freely and clearly, above all do not pass through the patch-robed monk's gate. And tell me, what special merit does the patch-robed monk have?" After a long pause, he said, "The king of humanity's three inches of iron; everywhere is covered with swords and spears." He gave a shout, planted his staff, and stepped down from the seat. He ascended the hall and said: "The sky has already brightened, the drum has already sounded; the assembly of holy ones has gathered, palms joined together. Nowadays, is there anyone who does not join palms? If there is, Nirgrantha rejoices; if there is not, Gautama flies into a rage. Standing for a long time—take care." A monk asked, "Grinding a three-foot sword to go reform unfair people: what is the Master's intention?" The Master said, "Go well." The monk said, "Checked." The Master said, "Look at you." The monk clapped his hands once and returned to the assembly. The Master said, "Finished." He ascended the hall and said: "North of North Mountain, south of South Mountain; sun and moon both shine, heaven and earth are dark. The great seas, rivers, and streams all radiate light; meeting Guanyin, ask Maitreya. Take care." A monk asked, "What happens when one has the principle but it is difficult to express?" The Master said, "Bitter." The monk said, "Then the tongue is pressed against the upper palate?" The Master hissed with a breath. The monk said, "I supposed the barbarian's beard was red." The Master said, "Have you seen Xinghua's heels even in a dream?" He instructed his disciples with a verse: "Black, black, black! / Speak, speak, speak! / Clear, clear, clear! / Attained, attained, attained!" In his room, the Master had planted a sword, with a pair of straw sandals and a basin of water placed beside the sword. Whenever he saw someone enter the room, he immediately said, "Look, look!" If anyone went to the side of the sword and hesitated in thought, the Master said, "Danger! You have lost your body and forfeited your life!" and shouted them out. In winter, the Master posted a placard in the monks' hall, writing these characters: 'two two two three table [...]'. Beneath it he wrote a note: 'If someone recognizes this, it does not depart from the four deportments.' The head monk saw it and said, 'Today the upādhyāya exempts us from assembly.' Hearing this, the Master laughed. In the wuyin year of the Baoyuan era, Commandant Li sent an envoy to invite the Master, saying, 'In all the land, my Dharma friends are only you, Master, and Yang Danian. Danian left me and passed away before me. In recent years, I have suddenly felt my decline; holding back death, I hope for one meeting.' The Commandant also sent a letter to the prefect of Tan Prefecture urgently requesting him to dispatch the Master. The Master was moved with sympathy and took a boat eastward with an attendant. While in the boat, he composed a verse: 'The Yangtze River's course is never-ending; / When will I reach the imperial capital? / Having already caught the advantage of the cool breeze, / Cease working the scull and oars.' Arriving at the capital, he met with Lord Li. A little over a month later, Lord Li indeed passed away. On the verge of death, he drew a circle and also composed a verse presented to the Master: 'The world has nothing to rely upon; / Mountains and rivers pose no obstacle. / The great sea is a speck of dust; / Sumeru contains a mustard seed. / Taking off the turban cap, / Loosening the belt from the waist: / If you seek birth and death, / Ask of this skin bag.' The Master asked, 'What is the original Buddha-nature?' The Lord said, 'Today is hotter than yesterday.' Immediately upon those words, he asked the Master, 'What is the phrase on the verge of departure?' The Master said, 'Originally without obstruction; wherever one is, let it be square or round.' The Lord said, 'It is evening and I am weary; I shall not answer further.' The Master said, 'Where there is no Buddha, act as the Buddha.' Thereupon, the Lord passed away peacefully. Emperor Renzong paid particular attention to the School of Emptiness. Hearing of Lord Li's passing and his dialogue with the Master, he sighed in admiration for a long time. The Master wept bitterly for him and parted at the grave. An imperial decree bestowed an official boat for his return south. On the way, he said to the attendant, 'I have suddenly caught wind-paralysis.' Looking at him, his mouth was already skewed.