..续本文上一页d inquiring about the Way. Later, however, I got some help and finally today I can talk to you like this. I advise all you followers of the Way not to live for food and clothes. Look! The world passes swiftly away, and meeting a good teacher is as rare as the flowering of the udumbara tree.
“Hearing everywhere of old man Linji, you come here intending to bait me with difficult questions and make it impossible for me to answer. Faced with a demonstration of the activity of my whole body, you students just stare blankly and can”t move your mouths at all; you”re at such a loss you don”t know how to answer. I tell you, “Asses can”t bear being trampled by a dragon-elephant.”
“You go around everywhere thumping your chests and whacking your ribs, saying, “I understand Chan! I understand the Way!” But let two or three of you come here and you can”t do a thing. Bah! Carrying that body and mind of yours, you go around everywhere flapping your lips like winnowing fans and deceiving villagers. The day will come when you”ll be flogged with iron rods. You”re not [true] renouncers of home. You”ll all be herded together in the realm of the asuras.
“As for the Way of ultimate truth, it is not something that seeks to arouse enthusiasm through arguments and disputes, nor that uses resounding oratory to refute heretics. As for the transmission of the buddhas and the patriarchs, it has no special purpose. Even though there are verbal teachings, they all fall into [the category of] such formulas for salvation as the Three Vehicles, the five natures, and the cause-and-effect that leads to [rebirth as]men or gods. But in the case of the teaching of the complete and immediate enlightenment this isn”t so; Sudhana did not go around seeking any of these.
“Virtuous monks, don”t use your minds mistakenly. The great sea does not detain dead bodies, but all you do is rush about the world carrying them on your shoulders. You yourselves raise the obstructions that impede your minds. When the sun above has no clouds, the bright heavens shine everywhere. When there is no cataract on the eye, there are no [imaginary] flowers in the sky.
“Followers of the Way, if you wish to be dharma as is, just have no doubts.“Spread out, it fills the entire dharma realm; gathered in, the smallest hair cannot stand upon it.” Distinctly and radiantly shining alone, it has never lacked anything. No eye can see it, no ear can hear it—then by what name can it be called
A man of old said, “To speak about a thing is to miss the mark.”
“Just see for yourselves—what is there
I can keep on talking forever. Each one of you must strive inpidually. Take care of yourselves.”
勘辨Critical Examinations
01黄檗、因入厨次、问饭头、作什么。饭头云、拣众僧米。黄檗云、一日吃多少。饭头云、二石五。黄檗云、莫太多么。饭头云、犹恐少在。黄檗便打。饭头却举似师。师云、我为汝勘这老汉。纔到侍立次、黄檗举前话。师云、饭头不会、请和尚代一转语。师便问、莫太多么。黄檗云、何不道、来日更吃一顿。师云、说什么来日、即今便吃。道了便掌。黄檗云、这风颠汉、又来这里捋虎须。师便喝出去。后沩山问仰山、此二尊宿、意作么生。仰山云、和尚作么生。沩山云、养子方知父慈。仰山云、不然。沩山云、子又作么生。仰山云、大似勾贼破家。
One day when Huangbo entered the kitchen he asked the head rice-cook,“What are you doing
”
The cook said, “I”m picking over the rice for the monks.”
“How much do they eat in a day
” asked Huangbo.
“Two and a half shi,” said the cook.
“Isn”t that too much
” asked Huangbo.
“I”m afraid it isn”t enough,” replied the cook.
Huangbo struck him. Later the cook mentioned this to Linji. Linji said,“I”ll test the old fellow for you.” As soon as Linji came to attend Huangbo, Huangbo told him the story.
“The cook didn”t understand—Venerable Priest, kindly give a turningword in place of the cook,” said Linji, who then asked, “Isn”t that too much
”
Huangbo said, “Well, why not say, “We”ll eat a meal again tomorrow!””
“Why talk about tomorrow—eat it right now!” said Linji, slapping Huangbo in the face.
“This lunatic has come here again to pull the tiger”…
《镇州临济慧照禅师语录 The Recorded Sayings of Chan Master Linji Huizhao of Zhenzhou》全文未完，请进入下页继续阅读…