廣弘明集 27.10

27.10

I have heard that the seven-foot round halo shines upward upon clouds of genuine pearls, and the five-coloured facial gateway overlooks the coral ground beside it. It transforms into a golden table, eclipsing the treasures of the Lishui River; its alteration is like jade-shell snow, surpassing the radiance of the mysterious frost. How could it be that where there is a capacity, there is no response? When there is a response, there is penetration. Where there is spirit, there is wisdom; when there is wisdom, there is decisive judgment. Therefore, for the jade pavilion, ascending the hall is not easy; for the violet-purple hall, entering the chamber is difficult. One must take the faith among the five faculties as the head, and the giving among the six pāramitās as supreme. Thus one is able to relinquish wealth to follow faith, leaving being to approach emptiness. Speaking in this manner, it can truly be known. Humbly, since the auspicious image emitted light, nearly ten days have passed in a flash; the depth of my dancing with joy is manifested in waking and dreaming, and the sincerity of my leaping for joy is tied to rising and sleeping. Gradually I notice the steamed meats of the ten-character feast, mocking the delicacies of He Ceng; with the flavours of the five cauldrons, I laugh at the words of Zhu Yan. The turtle broth and unicorn jerky are only heard of in talk; as for sheep's curd and ape's lips, how are they worth mentioning? Being burdened by wine and food is not as good as not eating past noon; what snails and ant eggs are offered on the sacrificial vessel, how could they compare with the purity of spring vegetables? I wish for you, my friend, to observe a three-day pure fast, from the hour of the Tiger to the hour of the Dog, with only one midday meal. There will naturally be rice sharp as jade and salt resembling a tiger's shape, celery from Yunmeng and water-weed from Liaodong, ten-pound pears and thousand-tree oranges, green bamboo shoots and purple ginger, solid chestnuts and frosty dates, pleasing to the mouth and filling to the belly, nothing sought that is not obtained. The eight-virtue water entirely enters the Dharma-stream; the Four Heavenly Kings all arrive to jointly defer to the propagation of the Way. To have like-minded companions as friends—is this not magnificent? Written by Xiao Yi.