No. 1355-A
No. 1355-A
無門老子早修杜多行。繼參臨濟禪。一十五處道場隨緣赴感。八萬四千偈頌信口入玄。籠罩古今。犇趨緇白。雄辯徹
Old Master Wu Men, in his early years, practiced ascetic disciplines. Later, he studied the Chan school of Linji. Across fifteen places of practice, he responded to circumstances as they arose. His verses—eighty-four thousand in number—flowed through his lips into profound mysteries, encompassing past and present, drawing monks and laypeople alike. His eloquent arguments pierced to the very core.
九重之聽。神機感三日之霖。雖禪衲半涉於信疑。然朝紳競為之稱替。爭知這老漢一似太虗空。兩忘是非。何有慍喜。遊戲如幻三昧。撈摝有緣眾生。參徒口傳。侍者筆授。未待涅槃時至。已同結集功成。不慕伊化金地於竹林園。不重伊掛草鞋於龍床角。不賞伊學牛頭融入定於石室。不羨伊似法華言見禮於槐庭。叵耐四面闊無門。會使八風吹不動。滄洲居士久嚮聲價。阻接笑談有來函書。貽我方冊。須知道信手拈來的。為得人解黏釋縛麼。十字街頭竿木隨身。且與逢場作戲。三十年後珠玉同價。會須有箇知音。淳祐己酉季春中澣 眉山程 公許序No. 1355
Listen closely to the ninefold depths—divine insight stirs a three-day rain. Though monks half believe, half doubt, court officials vie in praise. Who knows this old fellow is like vast empty space, letting go of right and wrong alike? What room is there for joy or anger? He plays in the samadhi of illusory transformation, scooping up sentient beings bound by karmic ties. Disciples spread his words by mouth; attendants record them by brush. Before the time of Nirvana arrives, the work of compilation is already complete. He does not covet transforming the golden ground of the Bamboo Grove, nor value hanging straw sandals at the dragon-throne corner. He gains no praise for meditating in a stone chamber like Niutou Rong, nor envy for receiving court honors like the Lotus Sutra preacher. Yet the four-sided gate stands wide with no door—the eight winds cannot stir him. Cangzhou Recluse has long heard of his reputation but missed face-to-face conversation; now a letter arrives with this volume in hand. Know this: whatever he picks up at will—does it release people's clinging and untie their bonds? At the crossroads, staff in hand, he plays along with the occasion. Thirty years hence, pearls and jade will share one price—surely there will be a kindred spirit to appreciate it. Chunyou jiyou, mid-spring, tenth day—Meishan Cheng Gongxu, preface.
無門開和尚語錄卷上
Record of Zen Master Wumen Kai's Sayings, Part 1