No. 1626-A敘高僧摘要
No. 1626-A: Summary of Eminent Monks
余刊布佛祖指南。法苑醒世。凡單傳直指。幽明感應。歷歷備具。而高僧一傳。譬如虗空體非羣相。而不拒彼眾相發揮。奈傳有正有續。若梁若明。計共四帙。俱以十欵分類。余訝之曰。有依有傍。怎說絕倫。拘格拘例。那云獨步。余惟前冊已經刻過者。不重錄外。今止分為四卷。名曰摘要。第一取道之高。堂堂坐斷千差路。卓卓分明絕去來。第二取法之高。雖云綿密弗通風。古往今來絕間隔。三則取其品之高。轉處孤危萬事休。隨緣得旨復何求。羣生造化乘斯力。一段靈光觸處周。四則取其化之高。日月照臨不到。天地覆載不著。劫火壞時彼常安。萬象泯時全體露。雖然如是。青不自青。黃不自黃。赤不自赤。白不自白。會得雲收月皎。方知此等縱橫。若問箇中同與別。余則應以。雞寒上樹鴨寒下水。葢看經先具看經眼。見地須開見地胸。幾人麻上生繩想。況又將繩認作虵。是為敘。
I have compiled a guide to the Buddha's teachings and a text to awaken the world from confusion. Every instance of direct mind-to-mind transmission, as well as the hidden and visible workings of cause and effect, is fully recorded. Regarding the transmission of eminent monks—it resembles the vastness of space, which has no fixed form, yet does not reject the expression of any form. However, there are both primary and supplementary records of this transmission, including those from the Liang Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty, totaling four volumes, each classified into ten categories. I found this surprising and remarked, "If something relies on supports and references, how can it be called unparalleled? If it is constrained by fixed patterns and examples, how can it be described as unrivaled?"
I have decided not to reprint the earlier volumes that have already been published. Instead, I now divide this work into four volumes, titled *Essentials*. The first volume selects the **supreme path**, standing firmly above all divergent paths—clear and distinct, beyond coming and going. The second volume selects the **supreme teaching**, which, though intricate and tightly sealed, is nonetheless without obstruction. The third volume selects the **supreme character**, turning at the point of utter solitude, where all worldly matters cease. Following circumstances, one attains insight—what else is there to seek? All beings rely on this power; a spark of awareness shines everywhere. The fourth volume selects the **supreme transformation**, beyond the reach of sun and moon, beyond the coverage of heaven and earth. When the kalpa-fire burns, it remains constant; when all things vanish, its whole body is revealed.
Nevertheless, blue does not call itself blue, yellow does not call itself yellow, red does not call itself red, white does not call itself white. If you understand when clouds clear and the moon shines bright, you will know the interplay of all such things. Should you ask about the differences and similarities within this, I answer: When cold, chickens climb trees; when cold, ducks dive into water.
Reading scriptures first requires the eye to see the scriptures; insight first requires the mind to open to insight. Many see ropes on the ground and think of snakes. This is even more so for those who mistake the rope for a snake. Such is my preface.
甲午歲菊月登高日無依道人徐昌治覲周父謹題
On the day of ascending heights in the ninth month of the year Jiawu, the unattached practitioner Xu Changzhi, whose father's given name is Jinzhou, respectfully inscribes this.