泗州普照覺和尚頌古
Songs of Ancient Masters by Master Puzhao of Sizhou
侍者法潤信悟編
Attendant Fa Run's Faith and Understanding Compilation
舉世尊一日陞座。文殊白槌云。諦觀法王法。法王法如是。世尊便下座。頌曰。
One day, the World-Honored One ascended the seat. Manjushri struck the gavel and said: "Look closely at the Dharma King's Dharma— The Dharma King's Dharma is just so." The World-Honored One then descended from the seat.
A verse says:
一段真風見也麼。綿綿化母理機梭。織成古錦含春像。無奈東君漏泄何。
A glimpse of the true wind, do you see it now? The weaving mother's shuttle moves, subtle and profound. She weaves an ancient brocade, holding spring's image within. Yet what can be done when the east wind reveals its secrets?
舉梁武帝問達磨大師。如何是聖諦第一義。磨云。廓然無聖。帝云。對朕者唯。磨云不識。帝不契。遂渡江至少林。面壁九年。頌曰。
Emperor Wu of Liang asked Bodhidharma, "What is the supreme truth of the holy teachings?" Bodhidharma replied, "Vast emptiness, nothing holy." The emperor asked, "Who stands before me?" Bodhidharma said, "I don't know." The emperor did not understand. So Bodhidharma crossed the river to Shaolin and faced the wall for nine years. A verse says:
廓然無聖。 來機徑挺。 得非犯鼻而揮斤。 失不回頭而墮甑。
寥寥冷坐少林。 默默全提正令。
秋清月轉霜輪。 河淡斗垂夜柄。 繩繩衣鉢付兒孫。
從此人天成藥病。
Vast and empty, no sage exists. The coming opportunity stands straight and true. Success is not about striking the nose with an axe; Failure is not about looking back at a shattered pot.
Alone and cold, sitting in Shaolin, Silently upholding the true command. Autumn clear, the moon turns its frosty wheel; The river calm, the Dipper hangs in the night sky. The robe and bowl pass down through generations, From this, gods and humans find both medicine and malady.
舉東印土國王。請二十七祖般若多羅齋。王問。云何不看經。祖云。貧道入息不居陰界。出息不涉眾緣。常轉如是經。百千萬億卷。頌曰。
The king of Eastern India once invited the Twenty-Seventh Patriarch, Prajñātāra, for a meal. The king asked, “Why don’t you read the sutras?”
The Patriarch replied, “This humble monk’s inward breath does not dwell in the aggregates, sense-fields, or elements; the outward breath does not involve the myriad conditions. Constantly turning such a sutra—a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand, a hundred million volumes.”
He then spoke a verse:
雲犀玩月璨含輝。 木馬游春駿不覉。 眉底一雙寒碧眼。
看經那到透牛皮。 明白心超曠劫。
英雄力破重圍。 妙圓樞口轉靈機。 寒山忘却來時路。
拾得相將携手歸。
The cloud-veiled rhino plays with the moon, its radiance shimmering. The wooden horse roams in spring, its spirit untamed. Beneath the brows, a pair of eyes gleam cold and clear— Yet reading scriptures, can one pierce the oxhide’s layer?
The awakened mind transcends the long kalpas past; The hero’s strength breaks through the thickest siege. At the wondrous, round pivot, the mouth turns the subtle key— Hanshan forgets the path by which he came, While Shide walks hand in hand with him, returning home.
舉世尊與眾行次。以手指地云。此處宜建梵剎。帝釋將一莖草。插於地上云。建梵剎已竟。世尊微笑。頌曰。
The World-Honored One was walking with the assembly when he pointed to the ground and said, "This is a suitable place to build a temple."
The god Indra then took a single blade of grass, stuck it into the earth, and said, "The temple is already built."
The World-Honored One smiled and spoke this verse.
百草頭上無邊春。 信手拈來用得親。 丈六金身功德聚。
等閑携手入紅塵。 塵中能作主。 化外自來賓。
觸處生涯隨分足。 未嫌伎倆不如人。
On every blade of grass, boundless spring unfolds. Picked up at will, it serves with intimacy. The golden form, six feet tall, gathers merit and virtue.
Casually, hand in hand, we enter the dusty world. Within the dust, we can be masters. Beyond transformation, guests arrive of their own accord.
Wherever we touch, life's path is content with what we have. Never mind if our skills are not equal to others.
舉僧問清源。如何是佛法大意。源云。廬陵米作麼價。頌曰。
A monk asked Qingyuan, "What is the essential meaning of Buddhism?" Qingyuan replied, "What is the price of rice in Luling?"
A verse says:
太平治業無像。 野老家風至淳。 只管村歌社飲。
那知舜德堯仁。
The world at peace, no need for grand display. The rustic home, a simple, honest way. Just singing village songs and sharing wine, Who knows the virtue of sage kings divine?
舉僧問馬大師。離四句絕百非。請師直指某甲西來意。大師云。我今日勞倦。不能為汝說。問取智藏去。僧問藏。藏云。何不問和尚。僧云。和尚教來問。藏云。我今日頭痛。不能為汝說。問取海兄去。僧問海。海云。我到這裡却不會。僧舉似大師。大師云。藏頭白海頭黑。頌曰。
A monk asked Master Ma, "Beyond the four propositions, transcending all negations—please, Master, point directly to the meaning of my coming from the West."
Master Ma said, "Today I am tired and weary, I cannot explain it for you. Go ask Zhizang."
The monk asked Zhizang. Zhizang said, "Why don't you ask the Master?"
The monk said, "The Master told me to come ask you."
Zhizang said, "Today I have a headache, I cannot explain it for you. Go ask Brother Hai."
The monk asked Hai. Hai said, "As for this, I don’t understand it either."
The monk reported this back to Master Ma. Master Ma said, "Zhizang’s head is white, Hai’s head is black."
A verse says:
藥之作病鑒乎前聖。 病之作醫必也其誰。 白頭黑頭兮克家之子。
有句無句兮截流之機。
堂堂坐斷舌頭路。 應笑毘耶老古錐。
The making of medicine to treat illness reflects the wisdom of ancient sages. Who, then, can be the healer when illness arises? Whether young or old, they are the ones who carry on the family's legacy.
With words or without, it is the moment to cut off the flow of thought. Sitting upright, severing the path of idle speech, One might smile at the old master of Vaiśālī.
舉藥山久不陞座。院主白云。大眾久思示誨。請和尚為眾說法。山令打鐘。眾方集。山陞座。良久便下座歸方丈。主隨後問云。和尚適來許為眾說法。云何不垂一言。山云。經有經師。論有論師。爭怪得老僧。頌曰。
Master Yaoshan had not given a Dharma talk for a long time. The temple steward said to him, “The assembly has long been hoping for your instruction. Please, Venerable, give a Dharma talk for everyone.” Yaoshan had the bell struck. When the assembly had gathered, he ascended the seat, remained silent for a long time, then descended and returned to his room. The steward followed him and asked, “Venerable, you had just agreed to give a Dharma talk for everyone. Why did you not utter a single word?” Yaoshan said, “For sutras, there are sutra masters; for treatises, there are treatise masters. How can you blame this old monk?” A verse says:
癡兒刻意止啼錢。 良駟追風顧影鞭。 雲掃長空巢月鶴。
寒清入骨不成眠。
The foolish child tries to stop tears with coins. The fine steed chases the wind, yet eyes the shadow-whip. Clouds sweep the vast sky where the moon nests with cranes. A chill pierces the bone, and sleep will not come.
舉百丈上堂。常有一老人聽法。隨眾散去。一日不去。丈乃問。立者何人。老人云。某甲於過去迦葉佛時。曾住此山。有學人問。大修行底人。還落因果也無。對他道。不落因果。墮野狐身五百生。今請和尚代一轉語。丈云。不昧因果。老人於言下大悟。頌曰。
Master Baizhang was giving a lecture in the hall. There was always an old man who would come to listen to the Dharma, and he would leave with the rest of the assembly. One day, he did not leave. Baizhang then asked, "Who is standing there?" The old man said, "I, in the time of the past Buddha Kāśyapa, once lived on this mountain. A student asked me, 'Does a person of great cultivation still fall into cause and effect?' I answered him, 'Does not fall into cause and effect.' For this, I fell into the body of a wild fox for five hundred lifetimes. Now I beg the Venerable to speak a turning word on my behalf." Baizhang said, "Does not obscure cause and effect." Upon hearing these words, the old man was greatly enlightened. A verse says:
一尺水一丈波。 五百生前不奈何。 不落不昧商量也。
依前撞入葛藤窠。 阿呵呵會也麼。 若是爾灑灑落落。
不妨我哆哆和和。 神歌社舞自成曲。
拍手其間唱哩囉。
One foot of water, one zhang of waves. Five hundred lifetimes past, what could be done? Not falling, not deluded—let's discuss it.
As before, stumbling into the tangle of vines. Ah, ho ho, do you understand? If you are free and unburdened,
Then I can be at ease and harmonious. Sacred songs and temple dances become their own melody, Clap hands and sing "liluo" in between.
舉南泉一日東西兩堂爭猫兒。南泉見遂提起云。道得即不斬。眾無對。泉斬却猫兒為兩段。南泉復舉前話問趙州。州便脫草鞋。於頭上戴出。泉云。子若在恰救得猫兒。頌曰。
One day at Nanquan's monastery, the monks of the east hall and the west hall were arguing over a cat. Seeing this, Nanquan picked up the cat and said, "If you can speak the truth of the matter, I will not kill it." No one could answer. So Nanquan cut the cat in two.
Later, Nanquan brought up the same question with Zhaozhou. Zhaozhou immediately took off his straw sandal, placed it on his head, and walked out. Nanquan said, "If you had been there earlier, you could have saved the cat."
A verse says:
兩堂雲水盡分拏。 王老師能驗正邪。 利刀斬斷俱亡像。
千古令人愛作家。 此道未喪。 知音可嘉。
鑿山透海兮唯尊大禹。 鍊石補天兮獨賢女媧。
趙州老有生涯。 草鞋頭戴較些些。 異中來也還明鑒。
只箇真金不混沙。
Two halls of wandering monks, all divided in their grasp. Teacher Wang can discern the true from the false. A sharp blade cuts through, all illusions vanish.
Through the ages, people admire the true masters. This Way is not lost; those who understand are worthy of praise.
Digging through mountains and seas—only Yu the Great is revered. Melting stones to mend the heavens—only Nüwa is honored.
Old Master Zhaozhou had his own way of life, Wearing straw sandals on his head, a little peculiar. Yet from the unusual, clarity still shines— True gold never mixes with sand.
舉臺山路上有一婆子。凡有僧問臺山路向什麼處去。婆云驀直去。僧纔行。婆云。好个阿師又恁麼去也。僧舉似趙州。州云。待與勘過。州亦如前問。至來日上堂云。我為汝勘破婆子了也。頌曰。
On the road to Mount Tai, there lived an old woman. Whenever a monk asked her, "Which way leads to Mount Tai?" she would say, "Just go straight ahead." As soon as the monk started walking, she would remark, "What a fine monk, yet again he goes just like that."
A monk reported this to Master Zhaozhou. Zhaozhou said, "I’ll go and check it out for myself." He went and asked the same question. The next day, during his lecture, Zhaozhou announced, "I have seen through that old woman for you."
A verse says:
年老成精不謬傳。 趙州古佛嗣南泉。 枯龜喪命因圖象。
良馬追風累纏牽。 勘破了老婆禪。 說向人前不直錢。
Old age brings wisdom, not empty tales. Zhaozhou, ancient Buddha, followed Nanquan's path. A dried-up turtle lost its life for a carved image. A swift horse, chasing the wind, is held back by its reins. Seeing through the old woman's Zen, Speaking of it to others isn't worth a penny.
舉雲門大師云。光不透脫有兩般病。一切處不明面前有物。是一。透得一切法空。隱隱地似有箇物相似。亦是光不透脫。又法身亦有兩般病。得到法身。為法執不忘已見猶存。墮在法身邊。是一直饒透得放過即不可。子細撿點將來。有什麼氣息。亦是病。頌曰。
Master Yunmen said, "When the light of wisdom is not fully transparent, there are two kinds of problems. First, in every situation, clarity is lacking, and something seems to stand in front of you. Second, even when one penetrates the emptiness of all phenomena, there remains a vague sense that something is there—this too is a lack of transparent wisdom.
Further, regarding the Dharma-body, there are also two kinds of problems. One attains the Dharma-body, yet due to clinging to Dharma and not letting go of self-view, one falls into attachment to the Dharma-body. Even if one penetrates it and tries to release it, it is still not enough. If you examine carefully, what trace of self remains? That too is a problem."
森羅萬象許崢嶸。 透脫無方礙眼睛。 掃彼門庭誰有力。
隱人胸次自成情。 船橫野渡涵秋碧。
棹入蘆花照雪明。 串錦老漁懷就市。 飄飄一葉浪頭行。
All things in the world show their splendor, Yet to see through them, no method can confine the eyes. Who has the strength to sweep away the thresholds of perception?
In the hidden depths of the heart, feelings arise on their own. A boat rests across the wild ferry, embracing autumn's blue, The oar enters the reed flowers, reflecting the brightness of snow.
An old fisherman, stringing together his catch, thinks of the market, Drifting on a single leaf, riding the crest of the waves.
舉地藏問修山主。甚處來。修云。南方來。藏云。南方近日佛法如何。修云。商量浩浩地。藏云。爭如我這裡種田博飯喫。修云。爭奈三界何。藏云。爾喚什麼作三界。頌曰。
Judi asked Monk Xiu, "Where have you come from?" Xiu replied, "From the south." Judi asked, "How is the Dharma doing in the south these days?" Xiu said, "There's endless discussion and debate." Judi said, "How does that compare to my way of farming for a simple meal?" Xiu asked, "But what about the three realms?" Judi countered, "What do you call the three realms?"
The verse says:
宗說般般盡強為。 流傳耳口便支離。 種田博飯家常事。
不是飽參人不知。 參飽明知無所求。
子房終不貴封侯。 忘機歸去同魚鳥。 濯足滄浪煙水秋。
All these doctrines and explanations are forced elaborations, Passed down by word of mouth, they become fragmented and disjointed. Plowing fields and begging for alms are just ordinary daily matters— Unless you’ve truly practiced deeply, you won’t understand.
When you’ve practiced deeply and know clearly, there is nothing more to seek. Just as Zhang Liang never prized his noble marquis title. Let go of cunning, return to nature, be one with fish and birds, Wash your feet in the blue waves, autumn mist over the water.
舉臨際將示滅。囑三聖云。吾遷化後。不得滅却吾正法眼藏。聖云。爭敢滅却和尚正法眼藏。際云。忽有人問汝。作麼生對。聖便喝。際云。誰知吾正法眼藏。向這瞎驢邊滅却。頌曰。
When Linji was about to pass away, he entrusted Sansheng, saying, "After I depart, do not let my True Dharma Eye Treasury perish." Sansheng replied, "How would I dare let the master's True Dharma Eye Treasury perish?" Linji asked, "If someone suddenly asks you about it, how will you respond?" Sansheng let out a shout. Linji said, "Who would have thought my True Dharma Eye Treasury would perish with this blind donkey."
A verse says:
信衣半夜付盧能。 攪攪黃梅七百僧。 臨際一枝正法眼。
瞎驢滅却得人憎。 心心相印祖祖傳燈。
夷平海岳變化鯤鵬。 只箇名言難比擬。
大都手段解翻騰。
The robe of faith passed to Lu Neng at midnight's hour, Stirring the seven hundred monks of Huangmei in their power. Linji's branch, the true Dharma eye so bright, Blind donkey extinguished, stirring disdain in sight. Heart to heart, the patriarchs pass the lamp's flame, Leveling seas and mountains, transforming Kun to Peng in name. This single phrase, beyond compare in might, For the great means know how to soar in flight.
舉廓侍者問德山。從上諸聖。向什麼處去也。山云。作麼作麼。廓云。勅點飛龍馬。跛鼈出頭來。山便休去。來日山浴出。廓過茶與山。山撫廓背一下。廓云。這老漢方始瞥地。山又休去。頌曰。
The attendant Ju Kuo asked De Shan, "Where have all the sages of the past gone?" De Shan said, "What? What?" Ju Kuo said, "The imperial decree appoints the flying dragon horse, but a lame turtle sticks its head out." De Shan then fell silent.
The next day, after De Shan had bathed, Ju Kuo offered him tea. De Shan patted Ju Kuo on the back. Ju Kuo said, "Now the old man finally sees clearly." De Shan again fell silent.
A verse says:
覿面來時作者知。 可中石火電光遲。 輪機謀主有深意。
欺敵兵家無遠思。 發必中更謾誰。
腦後見腮兮人難觸犯。 眉底著眼兮渠得便宜。
When face to face, the one who acts knows. Even in the flash of flint and lightning, there is delay. The wheel of karma and the master of schemes hold deep meaning.
Deceiving the enemy, strategists lack long-term thought. When action hits the mark, who can be deceived?
Seeing the back of the head—few dare to challenge. With eyes beneath the brows—they gain the advantage.
舉溈山問仰山。甚處來。仰云。田中來。山云。田中多少人。仰插下鍬子。叉手而立。山云。南山大有人刈茆。仰拈鍬子便行。頌曰。
Master Weishan asked Master Yangshan, "Where have you come from?" Yangshan replied, "From the fields." Weishan asked, "How many people are in the fields?" Yangshan thrust his shovel into the ground, folded his hands, and stood there. Weishan said, "There are many people cutting thatch on South Mountain." Yangshan picked up his shovel and left.
A verse says:
老覺情多念子孫。 而今慚愧起家門。 是須記取南山語。
鏤骨銘肌共報恩。
Old emotions linger, thoughts turn to descendants. Now, with humility, I rise within my family's gate. These words from Southern Mountain must be remembered: Carve them in bone, engrave them in flesh—together, repay this grace.
舉麻谷持錫到章敬。繞禪床三匝。振錫一下。卓然而立。敬云。是是。谷又到南泉。繞禪床三匝。振錫一下。卓然而立。泉云。不是不是。谷云。章敬道是。和尚為什麼道不是。泉云。章敬即是。是汝不是。此是風力所轉。終成敗壞。頌曰。
Juma Gu came to Zhangjing holding his staff. He circled the meditation seat three times, tapped his staff once, and stood upright. Zhangjing said, "Yes, yes."
Gu then went to Nanquan, circled the meditation seat three times, tapped his staff once, and stood upright. Nanquan said, "No, no."
Gu asked, "Zhangjing said yes. Why do you, Master, say no?"
Nanquan replied, "Zhangjing is right, but you are not. This is moved by the wind's force—in the end, it decays and fails."
A verse says:
是與不是。 好看棬䙡。 似抑似揚。 難兄難弟。 縱也彼既臨時。
奪也我何特地。 金錫一振太孤標。
繩床三繞閑游戲。 叢林擾擾是非生。 想像髑髏前見鬼。
Is it or isn't it? The beautiful circle is hard to grasp. Seems to be suppressed, seems to be uplifted. Difficult brothers, difficult companions. Even if they arrive in the moment,
What is taken, what do I hold onto? A golden staff shakes, standing alone and aloof. Three times around the meditation seat, wandering in playful ease. In the bustling grove, right and wrong arise. Imagine seeing ghosts before a skull.
舉法眼問脩山主。毫釐有差。天地懸隔。汝作麼生會。脩云。毫釐有差。天地懸隔。眼云。恁麼又爭得。脩云。某甲只如此。和尚又如何。眼云。毫釐有差。天地懸隔。脩便禮拜。頌曰。
He raised the Dharma Eye and asked Master Xiu, "If there is the slightest deviation, heaven and earth are far apart. How do you understand this?"
Xiu replied, "If there is the slightest deviation, heaven and earth are far apart."
The Eye said, "How can that be right?"
Xiu said, "That's just how I see it. How about you, Master?"
The Eye said, "If there is the slightest deviation, heaven and earth are far apart."
Xiu then bowed in respect.
A verse says:
秤頭蠅坐便欹傾。 萬世權衡照不平。 斤兩錙銖見端的。
終歸輸我定盤星。
The scale tilts when a fly perches on its head, For ages, measures of justice have been unclear. But when you weigh each ounce and grain with care, In the end, my steady balance will prevail.
舉僧問趙州。狗子還有佛性也無。州云有。僧云。既有。為什麼却撞入這箇皮袋。州云。為他知而故犯。又有僧問。狗子還有佛性也無。州云無。僧云。一切眾生皆有佛性。狗子為什麼却無。州云。為伊有業識在。頌曰。
A monk asked Master Zhaozhou, "Does a dog have Buddha-nature?" Zhaozhou replied, "Yes." The monk asked, "If it has Buddha-nature, why does it end up trapped in this skin-bag of a body?" Zhaozhou said, "Because it knows better but still transgresses."
Another monk asked, "Does a dog have Buddha-nature?" Zhaozhou replied, "No." The monk asked, "All sentient beings have Buddha-nature—why does the dog alone lack it?" Zhaozhou said, "Because it is bound by karmic consciousness."
A verse says:
狗子佛性有。 狗子佛性無。 直鉤元求負命魚。
逐氣尋香雲水客。 嘈嘈雜雜作分疎。 平展演大鋪舒。
莫怪儂家不慎初。 指點瑕疵還奪璧。 秦王不識藺相如。
The dog has Buddha-nature. The dog lacks Buddha-nature. A straight hook seeks fish that owe their lives.
Drifting monks chase scent and breath, Noisy, scattered, making distinctions, Yet all is spread out, fully displayed.
Do not blame me for not being careful from the start— Pointing out flaws only to seize the jade, The King of Qin did not recognize Lin Xiangru.
舉僧問雲門。不起一念。還有過也無。門云。須彌山。頌曰。
A monk asked Yunmen, "If not a single thought arises, is there still any fault?" Yunmen said, "Mount Sumeru." The verse says:
不起一念須彌山。 韶陽法施意非慳。 肯來兩手相分付。
擬去千尋不可攀。 滄海闊白雲閑。
莫將毫髮著其間。 假雞聲韻難謾我。 未肯模胡放過關。
Not a single thought arises, yet Mount Sumeru stands tall. Shaoyang's Dharma offering is generous, not stingy in intent. Willing to come with both hands, ready to pass it on.
Intending to climb a thousand fathoms, yet impossible to ascend. The vast sea is broad, the white clouds idle. Do not let even a hair's breadth attach to it.
The borrowed rooster's cry cannot deceive me— I will not vaguely let it pass the gate.
舉地藏問法眼。上座何往。眼云。迤邐行脚。藏云。行脚事作麼生。眼云不知。藏云。不知最親切。眼豁然大悟。頌曰。
Juzang asked Fayen, "Where is the senior monk heading?"
Fayen said, "Just wandering on pilgrimage."
Juzang asked, "What is this pilgrimage about?"
Fayen said, "I don't know."
Juzang said, "Not knowing is most intimate."
Fayen was suddenly greatly enlightened.
A verse says:
而今參飽似當時。 脫盡廉纖到不知。 任短任長休剪綴。
隨高隨下自平持。 家門豐儉臨時用。
田地優游信步移。 三十年前行脚事。 分明辜負一雙眉。
Now I understand as I did back then, Having shed all subtle attachments without even knowing. Let it be short or long, no need to trim or mend, Follow high or low, naturally balanced and steady.
The family's wealth or frugality is used as needed, The fields of practice are leisurely, walking with ease. Thirty years of wandering and seeking, Clearly, I have let down these two brows in vain.
舉雲巖掃地次。道吾云。太區區生。巖云。須知有不區區者。吾云。恁麼則有第二月也。巖提起掃帚云。這箇是第幾月。吾便休去。玄沙云。正是第二月。雲門云。奴見婢殷勤。頌曰。
Yunyan was sweeping the floor. Daowu said, “You’re being too particular.” Yunyan replied, “You should know there’s one who isn’t particular.” Daowu said, “If so, then there’s a second moon.” Yunyan raised his broom and said, “Which moon is this?” Daowu then fell silent. Xuansha said, “That is precisely the second moon.” Yunmen said, “A servant sees a maid being diligent.” A verse says:
借來聊爾了門頭。 得用隨宜即便休。 象骨巖前弄蛇手。
兒時做處老知羞。
Borrowed for a while to pass the time at the gate, Use it as needed, then let it rest when done. Before the Elephant Bone Cliff, playing with snakes by hand— What I did as a child, now old, I know shame.
舉巖頭到德山。跨門便問。是凡是聖。山便喝。頭禮拜。洞山聞舉云。若不是奯公。大難承當。頭云。洞山老漢。不識好惡。我當時一手擡一手搦。頌曰。
Ju Yantou arrived at Deshan's place. As soon as he stepped across the threshold, he asked, "Are you ordinary or a sage?" Deshan let out a sharp shout. Yantou bowed in respect. When Dongshan heard about this, he remarked, "If it weren't for Master Huo, it would have been very hard to handle." Yantou said, "That old fellow Dongshan doesn’t know what’s good or bad. At that moment, I was lifting with one hand and pressing down with the other." The verse says:
挫來機總權柄。 事有必行之威。 國有不犯之令。
賓尚奉而主驕。 君忌諫而臣佞。 底意巖頭問德山。
一擡一搦看心行。
To subdue the opponent's moves, one must wield authority skillfully. There are matters that demand decisive action, and there are commands that must not be violated.
When the guest is respectful but the host grows arrogant, When the ruler rejects advice and the ministers flatter, One must probe deeply, as Yantou questioned Deshan— Each gesture reveals the workings of the mind.
舉魯祖凡見僧來便面壁。南泉聞云。我尋常向他道。空劫已前承當。佛未出世時會取。不得一箇半箇。他恁麼驢年去。頌曰。
Whenever Master Luzu saw a monk approach, he would turn to face the wall. Upon hearing this, Nanquan remarked, "I've often told him: 'Take up the matter from before the empty kalpa, grasp it from before the Buddha appeared in the world.' Yet not even one or half a one has managed it. If he keeps on like this, when will he ever get there?"
A verse says:
淡中有味。 妙超情謂。 綿綿若存兮象先。 兀兀如愚兮道貴。
玉雕文以喪淳。 珠在淵而自媚。
十分爽氣兮清磨暑秋。 一片閑雲兮遠分天水。
Subtle flavors lie within simplicity. Profound, transcending words and thought. Enduring, ever-present, before forms arise. Still, like a fool, yet treasured by the Way.
Jade carved with patterns loses its purity. Pearls in the deep retain their quiet grace.
A breath of crisp air clears the autumn heat. A wisp of idle cloud divides sky and water.
舉雪峯示眾云。南山有一條鼈鼻蛇。汝等諸人。切須好看。長慶云。今日堂中。大有人喪身失命。僧舉似玄沙。沙云。須是稜兄始得。然雖如是。我即不恁麼。僧云。和尚作麼生。沙云。用南山作麼。雲門以拄杖。攛向峯面前作怕勢。頌曰。
Master Xuefeng addressed the assembly, saying: "On South Mountain, there is a poisonous snake. All of you must be very careful." Changqing remarked: "Today, in this hall, many have lost their lives." A monk reported this to Xuansha. Xuansha said: "Only Elder Brother Leng could say such a thing. Even so, I would not put it that way." The monk asked: "How would you put it, Master?" Xuansha replied: "What use is South Mountain?" Yunmen took his staff and thrust it toward Xuefeng, making a gesture of fear.
The verse says:
玄沙太剛。 長慶少勇。 南山鼈鼻死無用。 風雲際會頭角生。
果見韶陽下手弄。 下手弄。 激電光中看變動。
在我也能遣能呼。 於彼也有擒有縱。
底事如今付阿誰。 冷口傷人不知痛。
Xuan Sha was too rigid. Chang Qing lacked courage. The tortoise-nosed snake of South Mountain—dead and useless. When wind and clouds meet, horns sprout on the head.
Indeed, I saw Shao Yang take action. Take action— Watch the changes within the flash of lightning.
In me, there is both sending and calling. In others, there is both capture and release.
Now to whom shall this matter be entrusted? A cold mouth wounds others, yet feels no pain.
舉鹽官一日喚侍者。與我過犀牛扇子來。者云。扇子破也。官云。扇子既破。還我犀牛兒來。者無對。資福畫一圓相。於中書一牛字。頌曰。
The Salt Official called his attendant one day and said, "Bring me the rhinoceros fan."
The attendant replied, "The fan is broken."
The official said, "If the fan is broken, then return the rhinoceros to me."
The attendant had no reply.
Master Zifu drew a circle, and inside it wrote the character for "ox." He then chanted:
( The original text ends with the line "頌曰" (chanted), but the content of the chant is not provided. The translation reflects this structure. )
扇子破索犀牛。 棬攣中字有來由。 誰知桂轂千年魄。
妙作通明一點秋。
The fan's broken cord, a rhinoceros horn. In the coiled script, a reason is born. Who knew the cassia hub's thousand-year soul Could become a single point of autumn, bright and whole.
舉仰山指雪師子云。還有過得此色者麼。雲門云。當時便與推倒。雪竇云。只解推倒不解扶起。頌曰。
Master Yangshan pointed to a snow lion and asked, "Is there anything that surpasses this form?" Master Yunmen replied, "I would have toppled it right then." Master Xuedou commented, "He only knew how to knock it down, not how to raise it back up." The verse says:
一倒一起。 雪庭師子。 慎於犯而懷仁。 勇於為而見義。
清光照眼似迷家。 明白轉身還墮位。
衲僧家了無寄。 同死同生何此何彼。 暖信破梅兮春到寒枝。
涼飈脫葉兮秋澄潦水。
Falling down and rising up. The Snow Courtyard Lion. Cautious in avoiding offense, yet holding compassion. Bold in action, yet seeing righteousness.
Clear light shines in the eyes, yet one seems lost. Understanding turns the body, yet still falls back into position.
A monk’s home has nowhere to rely. Same death, same life—what is this, what is that? Warmth breaks through the plum blossoms—spring arrives on cold branches. Cool breeze sheds the leaves—autumn clarifies the flooded waters.
舉法眼以手指簾。時有二僧。同去卷簾。眼云。一得一失。頌曰。
Master Fayen pointed his finger at the bamboo curtain. At that moment, two monks went together to roll it up. Fayen said, "One gets it, one misses it." A verse says:
松直棘曲。 鶴長鳧短。 義皇世人。 俱忘治亂。 其安也潛鱗在淵。
其逸也翔鳥脫絆。 無何祖禰西來。
裡許得失相半。 蓬隨風而轉空。 舡截流而到岸。
箇中靈利衲僧。 看取清涼手段。
The pine stands straight, the bramble curves. The crane's neck long, the duck's short. In ancient times, people forgot order and chaos. In stillness, the hidden fish rests in the deep pool.
In freedom, the soaring bird breaks its tether. Then, the Patriarch came from the West. Half gain, half loss in this affair. Thistledown turns in the wind, empty. The boat cuts the current, reaches the shore.
Among them, the sharp-witted monk— See the cool, skillful hand at work.
舉僧問護國。鶴立枯松時如何。國云。地下底一場懡㦬。僧云。滴水滴凍時如何。國云。日出後一場懡㦬。僧云。會昌沙汰時。護法善神。向什麼處去也。國云。三門頭兩箇一場懡㦬。頌曰。
A monk asked Huguo, "What about when a crane perches on a withered pine?" Huguo said, "A moment of embarrassment down below."
The monk asked, "What about when a drop of water freezes into ice?" Huguo said, "A moment of embarrassment after the sun rises."
The monk asked, "During the Huichang persecution, where did the guardian deities go?" Huguo said, "Two moments of embarrassment at the temple gate."
The verse says:
壯志稜稜鬢未秋。 男兒不憤不封侯。 翻思清白傳家客。
洗耳溪頭不飲牛。
With lofty ambitions, hair not yet autumn-gray, A true man will not rest until honors come his way. Yet thinking of those who pass down a pure family name, They'd rather wash their ears by the stream than drink where cattle play.
舉風穴在郢州衙內。上堂云。祖師心印。狀似鐵牛之機。去即印住。住即印破。只如不去不住。印即是不印即是。時有盧陂長老。出問云。某甲有鐵牛之機。請師不搭印。穴云。慣釣鯨鯢澄巨浸。却嗟蛙步𩥇泥沙。陂佇思。穴喝云。長老何不進語。陂擬議。穴便打一拂子云。還記得話頭麼。試舉看。陂擬開口。穴又打一拂子。牧主云。佛法與王法一般。穴云。見箇什麼。牧云。當斷不斷。返招其亂。穴便下座。頌曰。
Master Fengxue was in the government office of Yingzhou. Ascending the hall, he said: "The mind-seal of the patriarchs is like the mechanism of an iron ox. If you go, it seals you in place; if you stay, it seals you and breaks through. Now, if you neither go nor stay, is it sealing or not sealing?"
At that time, Elder Lubei came forward and asked: "I have the mechanism of an iron ox. I ask the master not to apply the seal." Fengxue said: "Accustomed to fishing for whales in the clear, vast deep, yet sighing at frogs treading through muddy silt." Lubei paused in thought. Fengxue shouted: "Elder, why don't you speak?" As Lubei hesitated, Fengxue struck him with a whisk and said: "Do you still remember the topic? Try to bring it up." As Lubei prepared to open his mouth, Fengxue struck him again with the whisk.
The local governor said: "The Dharma of the Buddha and the law of the king are the same." Fengxue asked: "What do you see?" The governor replied: "If you fail to decide when you should, you only bring disorder upon yourself." Fengxue then descended from his seat.
A verse says:
鐵牛之機。 印住印破。 透出毘盧頂𩕳行。 却來化佛舌頭坐。
風穴當衡盧陂負墮。 棒頭喝下。
電光石火。 歷歷分明珠在盤。 眨起眉毛還蹉過。
The iron ox's moment of opportunity— Sealed, then broken through. Emerging from atop Vairocana's crown, Then returning to sit upon the Buddha's tongue.
At Wind Cave, facing Henglu, bearing the fall— The staff strikes, the shout descends.
Like lightning flash, like spark from stone— Clear as beads rolling in a tray. Yet if you blink an eye, you've already missed it.
舉僧問大隨。劫火洞然。大千俱壞。未審。這箇壞不壞。隨云壞。僧云。恁麼則隨他去也。隨云。隨他去。僧問龍濟。劫火洞然。大千俱壞。未審。這箇壞不壞。濟云不壞。僧云。為什麼却不壞。濟云。為同大千。頌曰。
A monk asked Master Dasui, "When the kalpa fire blazes and the great thousand worlds are destroyed, I wonder: does this one get destroyed or not?" Dasui said, "It gets destroyed." The monk said, "If so, then it goes along with them." Dasui said, "It goes along with them."
Another monk asked Master Longji, "When the kalpa fire blazes and the great thousand worlds are destroyed, I wonder: does this one get destroyed or not?" Longji said, "It does not get destroyed." The monk said, "Why does it not get destroyed?" Longji said, "Because it is the same as the great thousand worlds."
A verse says:
壞不壞。 隨他去也大千界。 句裡了無鉤鎖機。
脚頭多被葛藤礙。 會不會。 分明底事丁寧殺。
知心拈出勿商量。 還我當行相買賣。
Whether it's broken or unbroken, Just let it go—the great thousand worlds. Within these lines, there is no hidden mechanism of hooks and locks.
Yet our steps are often tangled by vines and creepers. Do you understand or not? The clear truth is earnestly laid out.
When the mind is grasped, no discussion is needed— Just return to me the proper conduct, the genuine trade.
舉雲門垂語云。古佛與露柱相交。是第幾機眾無語。自代云。南山起雲北山下雨。頌曰。
Master Yunmen once posed a question: "When an ancient Buddha and a temple pillar intersect—what level of teaching is this?" The assembly was silent. He answered for them: "Clouds gather over the southern mountain; rain falls on the northern mountain." A verse says:
一道神光。 初不覆藏。 超見緣也。 是而無是。 出情量也。
當而無當。 巖花之粉兮蜂房成蜜。 野草之滋兮麝臍作香。
隨類三尺一丈六。 明明觸處露堂堂。
A single divine light, From the start, nothing is concealed. Transcending the seen and its conditions, It is, yet is not— Beyond the realm of thought and measure.
It meets, yet does not meet— Like pollen from a cliff flower, Bees transform it into honey; Like the essence of wild grass, Musk deer make it fragrant.
Adapting to all forms— Three feet or sixteen feet tall— Everywhere, bright and clear, It is openly revealed.
舉仰山問僧。甚處人。僧云。幽州人。山云。汝還思彼中麼。僧云常思。山云。能思是心。所思是境。彼中山河大地樓臺殿閣人畜等物。反思思底心。還有許多般麼。僧云。某甲到這裏。總不見有。山云。信位即是。人位未是。僧云。和尚莫別有指示否。山云別有。別無即不中。據汝見處。只得一玄。得坐披衣。向後自看。頌曰。
Master Yangshan asked a monk, “Where are you from?” The monk said, “I am from Youzhou.” Yangshan asked, “Do you still think of that place?” The monk said, “I often think of it.” Yangshan said, “That which thinks is the mind; that which is thought of is the object. Over there, the mountains, rivers, great earth, towers, pavilions, halls, people, animals, and all such things—now turn back and reflect on the mind that does the thinking. Does it also have so many kinds of things?” The monk said, “When I get here, I don’t see anything at all.” Yangshan said, “That is the stage of faith, but not yet the stage of the person.” The monk said, “Do you have any other instruction, Master?” Yangshan said, “If I had something else, it wouldn’t be right. According to your understanding, you have only grasped one aspect. Sit down, put on your robe, and look into it for yourself later.”
A verse says:
無外而容。 無礙而沖。 門牆岸岸。 關鎖重重。 酒常酣而臥客。
飯雖飽而頹農。 突出虛空兮風摶妙翅。
踏翻滄海兮雷送遊龍。
Without boundaries, yet it holds all. Without obstruction, yet it flows freely. Walls and gates rise high, Barriers and locks stand dense. Guests lie drunk, wine ever sweet, Farmers slump full, though well-fed. Breaking through emptiness—wind lifts wondrous wings, Overturning vast seas—thunder sends the roaming dragon.
舉三聖問雪峯。透網金鱗。未審。以何為食。峯云。待汝出網來向汝道。聖云。一千五百人善知識。話頭也不識。峯云。老僧住持事煩。頌曰。
A monk named Jusansei asked Master Xuefeng, "A golden carp that has passed through the net—what does it feed on?" Xuefeng replied, "When you yourself have passed through the net, I will tell you." Jusansei said, "You are a teacher to fifteen hundred monks, yet you don’t even understand the point of the question." Xuefeng answered, "This old monk is too busy with temple affairs."
A verse says:
浪汲初昇雲雷相送。 騰躍稜稜看大用。 燒尾分明度禹門。
華鱗未肯淹虀瓮。 老成人不驚眾。
慣臨大敵初無恐。 泛泛端如五兩輕。 堆堆何翅千鈞重。
高名四海復誰同。 介立八風吹不動。
Waves surge as clouds and thunder escort the rising sun. Leaping high, its mighty power is clearly shown. Scales aflame, it passes through the Dragon Gate, truly known.
Its splendid scales refuse to linger in a jar of brine. A seasoned soul, unmoved by the crowd's design. Facing great foes, it stands without a fear or sign.
Drifting lightly as a feather in the breeze, Yet weighty as a thousand weights with ease. Whose fame across the seas can match this one, Standing firm, unshaken by the eight winds' run?
舉風穴垂語云。若立一塵家國興盛。不立一塵家國喪亡。雪竇拈拄杖云。還有同生同死底衲僧麼。頌曰。
Master Fengxue raised a case and said, "If a single speck of dust is established, the nation prospers. If not a single speck is established, the nation perishes."
Xuedou, lifting his staff, said, "Is there a monk who shares life and death with me?"
The verse says:
皤然渭水起垂綸。 何似首陽清餓人。 只在一塵分變態。
高名勳業兩難泯。
White-haired, he cast his line in the Wei River's flow— How different from the pure, starving men of Shouyang! A single speck of dust divides their paths and fates, Yet both their noble names and deeds refuse to fade.
舉洛浦參夾山。不禮拜當面而立。山云。雞棲鳳巢。非其同類出去。浦云。自遠趨風。乞師一接。山云。目前無闍梨。此間無老僧。浦便喝。山云住住。且莫草草怱怱。雲月是同。溪山各異。截斷天下人舌頭即不無。爭教無舌人解語。浦無語。山便打。浦從此伏膺。頌曰。
Luopu went to see Jiashan but did not bow, standing directly before him. Jiashan said, "A chicken roosting in a phoenix's nest—they are not of the same kind. Leave." Luopu said, "I have come from afar, drawn by your reputation. I ask you to accept me." Jiashan said, "Before me there is no venerable one; here there is no old monk." Luopu then shouted. Jiashan said, "Stop, stop! Do not be so hasty and careless. The clouds and moon may be the same, but the streams and mountains are different. Cutting off the tongues of everyone under heaven is not impossible—but how can one without a tongue understand speech?" Luopu had no reply. Jiashan then struck him. From then on, Luopu submitted wholeheartedly. A verse says:
搖頭擺尾赤梢鱗。 徹底無依解轉身。 截斷舌頭饒有術。
拽回鼻孔妙通神。 夜明簾外兮風月如晝。
枯木巖前兮花卉長春。 無舌人無舌人。
正令全提一句親。 獨步環中明了了。 任從天下樂欣欣。
Shaking head and wagging tail, scales of crimson glow, Utterly unbound, turning freely, no place to call home. Though the tongue is cut, skill remains abundant, Pulling back the nostrils, wondrously connecting with the divine.
Outside the curtain of night, wind and moonlight bright as day, Before the withered cliff, flowers and plants forever in spring. The tongueless one, the tongueless one, Upholds the true command, a single phrase draws near.
Alone walking within the circle, clarity fully known, Let all under heaven rejoice as they will.
舉馬大師不安。院主問。和尚近日尊位如何。大師云。日面佛月面佛。頌曰。
Master Ma was unwell. The temple director asked, "How has Your Reverence been feeling lately?"
The master replied, "Sun-face Buddha, Moon-face Buddha."
A verse says:
日面月面星流電卷。 鏡對像而無私。 珠在盤而自轉。
君不見。 鉗鎚前百鍊之金。 刀尺下一機之絹。
Sun face, moon face, stars flowing, lightning rolling. The mirror reflects the image without bias. The pearl in the bowl turns on its own.
Do you not see— The gold refined a hundred times before the hammer and tongs, The silk woven on a single loom beneath the blade and ruler.
舉溈山問仰山。忽有人問一切眾生。但有業識茫茫無本可據。子作麼生驗。仰云。若有僧來即召云某甲。僧回首乃云是什麼。待伊擬議。向道非唯業識茫茫。亦乃無本可據。山云。善哉善哉。頌曰。
Master Weishan asked Master Yangshan, "If someone suddenly asks, 'All sentient beings have only vast, boundless karmic consciousness, with no fundamental basis to rely on. How would you verify this?'"
Yangshan replied, "If a monk comes, I would call out to him, 'So-and-so!' When the monk turns his head, I would ask, 'What is this?' As he hesitates to answer, I would say, 'Not only is karmic consciousness vast and boundless—it also has no fundamental basis to rely on.'"
Weishan said, "Excellent, excellent!"
A verse says:
一喚回頭識我不。 依悕蘿月又成鉤。 千金之子纔流落。
漠漠塗窮有許愁。
At the first call, do you turn to recognize me? Leaning on the wistful vines, the moon again becomes a crescent. A child of a thousand gold pieces has just fallen into wandering, On the boundless, desolate road, there is such sorrow.
舉臨際示眾云。有一無位真人。常在汝等面門出入。初心未證據者看看。時有僧問。如何是無位真人。際下禪床擒住。者僧擬議。際托開云。無位真人。是什麼乾屎橛。頌曰。
Linji addressed the assembly, saying: "There is a true person of no rank, constantly coming in and going out through the gates of your face. Those of you who have not yet realized this, look! Look!"
At that time, a monk asked: "What is the true person of no rank?"
Linji got down from his seat, grabbed the monk, and held him. As the monk hesitated, Linji pushed him away and said: "The true person of no rank—what a dried shit-stick!"
A verse says:
迷悟相返。 妙傳而簡。 春拆百花兮一吹。 力回九牛兮一挽。
無奈泥沙撥不開。 分明塞斷甘泉眼。 忽然突出肆橫流。
Confusion and enlightenment turn back on each other. The wondrous transmission is simple and direct. A single breath scatters the hundred flowers of spring; A single pull turns back the strength of nine oxen.
Yet the mud and sand cannot be swept away— They clearly block the spring of sweet water’s source. Then suddenly it bursts forth, Flowing freely in all directions.
師復云險。
The master further said: It is perilous.
舉僧問趙州。學人乍入叢林。乞師指示。州云。喫粥了未。僧云。喫粥了。州云。洗盋去。頌曰。
A monk asked Master Zhaozhou, "I have just entered the monastic community. I beg you, Master, for guidance."
Zhaozhou said, "Have you eaten your porridge?"
The monk said, "I have eaten my porridge."
Zhaozhou said, "Then go wash your bowl."
A verse says:
粥罷令教洗盋盂。 豁然心地自相符。 而今參飽叢林客。
且道其間有悟無。
After the morning meal, wash your bowl and cup. Suddenly, your mind and heart find their match. Now, as a seasoned seeker in the forest of practice, tell me: in this very moment, is there awakening or not?
舉雲門問乾峯。請師答話。峯云。到老僧也未。門云。恁麼則某甲在遲也。峯云。恁麼那恁麼那。門云。將謂猴白更有猴黑。頌曰。
Master Yunmen asked Master Qianfeng, "Please, Master, give me an answer."
Qianfeng said, "Have you reached this old monk yet?"
Yunmen said, "If that's the case, then I am late."
Qianfeng said, "Is that so? Is that so?"
Yunmen said, "I thought the monkey was white, but there is also a black one."
The verse says:
絃筈相銜。 綱珠相對。 發百中而箭箭不虛。 攝眾景而光光無礙。
得言句之總持。 住游戲之三昧。
妙其間也宛轉偏圓。 必如是也縱橫自在。
The bowstring fits the notch, The net's knots align with its pearls. Every arrow strikes true, a hundred hits without fail, Gathering all reflections, each light unobstructed.
Grasping the essence of words, Abiding in the playful samadhi.
Subtle and wondrous, turning freely between partial and complete; Truly so, moving through the world with ease and freedom.
舉洛浦臨終示眾云。今有一事。問儞諸人。這箇若是。即頭上安頭。若道不是。即斬頭覓活。時首座云。青山常舉足。日下不挑燈。浦云。是什麼時節。作這箇說話。有彥從上座。出云。去此二途。請師不問。浦云。未在更道。從云。某甲道不盡。浦云。我不管儞道盡道不盡。從云。某甲無侍者祗對和尚。浦便休。至晚喚從上座問。儞今日祗對。甚有來由。合體得先師道。目前無法。意在目前。他不是目前法。非耳目所到。且道。那句是賓。那句是主。若揀得出。分付盋袋子。從云不會。浦云汝合會。從云實不會。浦喝出云。苦哉苦哉。僧問。和尚尊意如何。浦云。慈舟不棹清波上。劍峽徒勞放木鵝。頌曰。
Master Luopu, nearing his end, addressed the assembly: “Now there is one matter I ask of you all. If you say this is it, it’s like adding a head on top of a head. If you say it is not, it’s like cutting off your head to look for life.” At that time, the head monk said, “Green mountains always lift their feet; beneath the sun, no lamp is lit.” Luopu said, “What kind of moment is this, to speak such words?” Then the senior monk Yancong came forward and said, “Apart from these two paths, I ask the Master not to question.” Luopu said, “Not yet—say more.” Cong said, “I cannot express it fully.” Luopu said, “I do not care whether you express it fully or not.” Cong said, “I have no attendant to respond to the Venerable.” Luopu then let it rest. That evening, he called for Senior Monk Cong and asked, “Your response today had real substance. You should have grasped what our late teacher said: ‘Before the eyes there is no dharma, yet the meaning is right before the eyes. It is not a dharma before the eyes, nor can it be reached by ears or sight.’ Now tell me, which phrase is the guest, and which is the host? If you can distinguish them, I will entrust you with the bowl and robe.” Cong said, “I don’t understand.” Luopu said, “You should understand.” Cong said, “Truly, I do not understand.” Luopu shouted and sent him away, saying, “How pitiful, how pitiful!” A monk asked, “What is the Venerable’s intention?” Luopu said, “The boat of compassion does not row upon clear waves; in the sword gorge, one labors in vain to release the wooden goose.”
A verse says:
餌雲鉤月釣清津。 年老心孤未得鱗。 一曲離騷歸去後。
汨𤄷江上獨醒人。
Baiting clouds, hooking the moon, I fish the clear stream. Old in years, lonely in heart, I’ve yet to catch a scale. After playing one tune of “Departing Sorrow” and returning, I am the one who stays sober alone on the Miluo River.
舉僧問南陽忠國師。如何是本身盧舍那。國師云。與我過淨餅來。僧將淨瓶到。國師云。却安舊處著。僧復問。如何是本身盧舍那。國師云。古佛過去久矣。頌曰。
A monk asked National Teacher Zhong of Nanyang, “What is the original body of Vairocana?” The National Teacher said, “Bring me the clean water bottle.” The monk brought the water bottle. The National Teacher said, “Put it back in its original place.” The monk asked again, “What is the original body of Vairocana?” The National Teacher said, “The ancient Buddha has long since passed away.”
A verse says:
鳥之行空魚之在水。 江湖相忘雲天得志。 擬心一絲對面千里。
知恩報恩人間幾幾。
Birds fly in the sky, fish swim in the water. Forgotten in rivers and lakes, fulfilled under clouds and sky. With a single thought of intention, a thousand miles apart. How many in this world truly know gratitude and repay kindness?
舉羅山問巖頭。起滅不停時如何。頭咄云。是誰起滅。頌曰。
Master Jūluó asked Yántóu, "When arising and ceasing do not stop, what should one do?"
Yántóu shouted, "Who is it that arises and ceases?"
The verse says:
斫斷老葛藤。 打破狐窠窟。 豹披霧而變文。 龍椉雷而換骨。
咄起滅紛紛是何物。
Chop through the old tangled vines. Shatter the fox's den. The leopard's spots shift in the mist; The dragon sheds its bones in thunder.
Hah! What is this endless rising and falling?
舉僧問興陽剖和尚。娑竭出海乾坤靜。覿面相呈事若何。陽云。妙翅鳥王當宇宙。箇中誰是出頭人。僧云。忽遇出頭時。又作麼生。陽云。似鶻提鳩。君不覺御樓前驗始知真。僧云。恁麼則叉手當胸退身三步。陽云。須彌座下烏龜子。莫待重教點額痕。頌曰。
A monk asked Abbot Xingyang, "When the dragon king emerges from the sea, all is calm between heaven and earth. What happens when you meet face to face?"
Xingyang replied, "The golden-winged bird rules the universe. Who among us can step forward?"
The monk said, "What if someone does step forward?"
Xingyang answered, "Like a hawk seizing a dove, unnoticed. Only when tested before the imperial tower is the truth revealed."
The monk said, "In that case, I fold my hands, bow, and retreat three steps."
Xingyang said, "A turtle beneath the Sumeru throne—do not wait to be marked on the forehead again."
A verse says:
絲綸降號令分。 寰中天子塞外將軍。 不待雷驚出蟄。
那知風遏行雲。 機底聯綿兮自有金針玉線。
印前恢廓兮元無鳥篆蟲文。
Silk threads descend, commands are issued. The emperor within the realm, the general beyond the borders. They do not wait for thunder to startle the hibernating creatures.
Who would know the wind halts the moving clouds? Beneath the loom, continuous and unbroken—there are golden needles and jade threads. Before the seal, vast and expansive—originally there are no bird scripts or insect writings.
舉圓覺經云。居一切時。不起妄念。於諸妄心。亦不息滅。住妄想境。不加了知。於無了知。不辨真實。頌曰。
The *Perfect Enlightenment Sutra* says:
In all moments, do not give rise to deluded thoughts. When deluded thoughts appear, do not try to extinguish them. Dwell in the realm of illusion, yet do not try to understand it. Where there is no understanding, do not distinguish what is real.
A verse says:
巍巍堂堂。 磊磊落落。 鬧處刺頭穩處下脚。 脚下線斷我自由。
鼻端泥盡君休斵。 莫動著。 千年故紙中合藥。
Majestic and grand, Open and forthright. In the bustle, plant your head; in stillness, set your feet. When the thread beneath your feet snaps, I am free.
When the mud on your nose tip is gone, cease your carving. Do not stir it up— In ancient scrolls a thousand years old, find the medicine.
舉德山圓明大師示眾云。及盡去也。直得三世諸佛。口掛壁上。猶有一人呵呵大笑。若識此人。參學事畢。頌曰。
Venerable Master Yuande of Deshan addressed the assembly, saying:
Even if everything is completely swept away, so thoroughly that the Buddhas of past, present, and future are left with nothing to say—their mouths hung on the wall—still there is one person who lets out a hearty laugh.
If you recognize this person, your work of study and practice is complete.
A verse says:
收把斷襟喉。 風磨雲拭。 水冷天秋。 錦鱗莫謂無滋味。
釣盡滄浪月一鉤。
Gather up the broken threads of the mind. Wind polishes, clouds wipe clean. Water chills, autumn sky. Do not say the golden carp has no flavor— With a single hook, I fish the moon from the vast blue waves.
舉僧問趙州。如何是祖師西來意。州云。庭前柏樹子。頌曰。
A monk asked Master Zhaozhou, "What is the meaning of the First Patriarch coming from the West?" Zhaozhou replied, "The cypress tree in the courtyard."
岸眉橫雪。 河目含秋。 海口鼓浪。 航舌駕流。 撥亂之手。
太平之籌。 老趙州老趙州。 攪攪叢林卒未休。
徒費工夫也造車合轍。 本無伎倆也塞壑填溝。
Eyebrows like snowy banks, eyes holding autumn's depth, A mouth like a sea-tide, a tongue that rides the waves. A hand that calms disorder, plans that bring true peace— Old Master Zhaozhou, Old Master Zhaozhou, Stirring up the grove, never resting, never through. Wasting effort, yet the cart fits the track; No special skill, yet fills the ditch and gap.
舉維摩詰問文殊師利。何等是菩薩入不二法門。文殊師利曰。如我意者。於一切法。無言無說。無示無識。離諸問答。是為入不二法門。於是文殊師利問維摩詰言。我等各自說已。仁者當說。何等是菩薩入不二法門。維摩默然。頌曰。
Vimalakirti asked Manjushri, "What is it for a bodhisattva to enter the Dharma-gate of non-duality?"
Manjushri replied, "In my view, it is to have no words, no speech, no demonstration, no recognition, and to be free from all questioning and answering—this is to enter the Dharma-gate of non-duality."
Then Manjushri asked Vimalakirti, "Each of us has spoken. Now, noble one, you should tell us: What is it for a bodhisattva to enter the Dharma-gate of non-duality?"
Vimalakirti remained silent.
A verse says:
曼殊問疾老毘耶。 不二門開看作家。 珉表粹中誰賞鑒。
忘前失後莫咨嗟。 區區抱璞兮。 楚庭𭄗士。
璨璨報珠兮。 隋城斷蛇。 休點破絕疵瑕。
俗氣渾無却較些。
Manjushri visits the sick in Vaisali, The gate of non-duality opens, revealing the adept. Who appreciates the jade within the rough?
Forget the past, lose the future—do not lament. Holding a simple gem, A scholar of Chu's court.
A shining pearl bestowed, A severed snake in Sui's city. Do not expose flaws, Free from worldly dust, yet still refined.
舉洞山供養雲巖真次。遂舉前邈真話。有僧問。雲巖道只這是意旨如何。山云。我當時洎錯會先師意。僧云未審。雲巖還知有也無。山云。若不知有。爭解恁麼道。若知有爭肯恁麼道。頌曰。
Master Dongshan set up offerings before the portrait of Master Yunyan, and then brought up the previous conversation about the portrait. A monk asked, "What is the meaning of Yunyan saying, 'Just this is it'?" Dongshan replied, "At the time, I mistakenly understood my late teacher's meaning." The monk asked, "I wonder, did Yunyan know there is something, or not?" Dongshan said, "If he didn't know there is something, how could he speak like that? If he knew there is something, how would he be willing to speak like that?" The verse says:
爭解恁麼道。 五更雞唱家林曉。 爭肯恁麼道。
千年鶴與雲松老。 寶鑑澄明驗正偏。 玉機轉側看兼到。
門風大振兮規步綿綿。 父子變通兮聲光浩浩。
Why would one speak in such a way? At the fifth watch, the rooster crows, and the forest home awakens at dawn. Why indeed speak in such a way?
The thousand-year crane grows old with the clouds and pines. The precious mirror, clear and bright, reveals truth and bias. The jade mechanism turns and shifts, observing both sides.
The tradition of the school flourishes greatly—its steps are steady and continuous. Father and son adapt and communicate—their voices and light vast and boundless.
舉雪峯住菴時。有兩僧來禮拜。峯見來以手托菴門。放身出云。是什麼。僧亦云。是什麼。峯低頭歸菴。僧後到巖頭。頭問。甚麼處來。僧云。嶺南來。頭云。曾到雪峯麼。僧云曾到。頭云。有何言句。僧舉前話。頭云。他道什麼僧云。他無語低頭歸菴。頭云。噫我當初。不向他道末後句。若向伊道。天下人不奈雪老何。僧至夏末。再舉前話請益。頭云。何不早問。僧云。未敢容易。頭云。雪峯雖與我同條生。不與我同條死。要識末後句。只這是。頌曰。
When Xuefeng was living in his hermitage, two monks came to pay their respects. Seeing them approach, Xuefeng placed his hand on the doorframe, leaned out, and asked, "What is it?" The monks also replied, "What is it?" Xuefeng lowered his head and returned inside the hermitage.
Later, the monks went to Yantou. Yantou asked, "Where have you come from?" They said, "From south of the mountains." Yantou asked, "Did you visit Xuefeng?" They said, "Yes, we did." Yantou asked, "What words did he offer?" The monks recounted the earlier exchange. Yantou said, "What did he say then?" The monks replied, "He said nothing, just lowered his head and went back inside." Yantou sighed, "Alas! I never gave him the final phrase. If I had, no one in the world could have matched Old Xue."
At the end of the summer retreat, the monks brought up the earlier exchange again, seeking further instruction. Yantou said, "Why didn't you ask sooner?" They replied, "We didn't dare to be hasty." Yantou said, "Though Xuefeng and I were born from the same branch, we do not die on the same branch. If you wish to understand the final phrase, it is just this."
A verse says:
切瑳琢磨。 變態肴訛。 葛陂化龍之杖。 陶家居蟄之梭。
同條生兮有數。 同條死兮無多。 末後句只這是。
風舟載月浮秋水。
Polish and refine, transform and adapt. The staff from Gebei that turned into a dragon, The shuttle from Tao's house where the silkworm lies dormant.
Born from the same branch—countable in number, Dead from the same branch—not many remain. The final phrase is simply this.
A boat in the wind carries the moon, floating on autumn waters.
舉法眼問覺上座。舡來陸來。覺云。船來。眼云。船在什麼處。覺云。船在河裏。覺退後。眼却問傍僧云。儞道。適來這僧。具眼不具眼。頌曰。
He raised the Dharma Eye and asked Venerable Jue, "Did you come by boat or by land?" Jue said, "By boat." The Eye asked, "Where is the boat?" Jue replied, "The boat is in the river." After Jue withdrew, the Eye turned to ask a nearby monk, "Tell me, did that monk just now have insight or not?" The verse says:
水不洗水。 金不博金。 昧毛色而得馬。 靡絲絃而樂琴。
結繩畫卦有許事。 喪盡真淳盤古心。
Water does not wash water. Gold does not trade for gold. You cannot recognize a horse by the color of its hair. You cannot play music on a zither without strings.
Tying knots and drawing trigrams—these are but empty gestures. They lose the pure, ancient heart of the beginning.
舉曹山問德上座。佛真法身。猶若虛空。應物現形。如水中月。作麼生說箇應底道理。德云。如驢覷井。山云。道即太殺道。只道得八成。德云。和尚又如何。山云。如井覷驢。頌曰。
Master Caoshan asked De the monk, "The true Dharma body of the Buddha is like empty space. It manifests forms in response to beings, like the moon reflected in water. How would you explain this principle of 'responding'?" De said, "Like a donkey looking into a well." Caoshan said, "That's quite a statement, but it only captures eighty percent." De asked, "How would you say it, Master?" Caoshan replied, "Like the well looking at the donkey." A verse says:
驢覷井井覷驢。 智容無外淨涵有餘。 肘後誰分印。
家中不蓄書。 機絲不掛梭頭事。 文彩縱橫意自殊。
The donkey looks at the well, the well looks at the donkey. Wisdom holds nothing outside, purity contains what remains. Who can distinguish the seal behind the elbow?
At home, no books are stored. The loom’s thread does not hang on the shuttle’s task— Patterns unfold freely, the meaning stands alone.
舉黃蘗示眾云。汝等諸人。盡是噇酒糟漢。與麼行脚。何處有今日。還知大唐國裡無禪師麼。時有僧出云。只如諸方匡徒領眾。又作麼生。蘗云。不道無禪。只是無師。頌曰。
Huangbo raised his staff and addressed the assembly, saying, "All of you here are nothing but wine-soaked dregs. Carrying on like this on your pilgrimage, how could you ever reach this day? Do you know that in the great Tang Empire, there are no true Zen masters?" At that moment, a monk stepped forward and asked, "What about those in various places who guide disciples and lead assemblies? How do you explain that?" Huangbo replied, "I didn't say there is no Zen. I only said there are no true teachers."
岐分絲染太嘮嘮。 菓綴花聯敗祖曹。 妙握司南造化柄。
水雲器具在甄陶。 屏割繁碎。 剪除氄毛。
星衡藻鑑。 玉尺金刀。 黃蘗老察秋毫。 坐斷春風不放高。
The tangled threads of division are too much chatter. Fruit strung together, flowers linked, betray the ancestral teachings. Skillfully grasping the compass of creation's handle, The tools of water and clouds are in the shaping pot.
Cut away the clutter and noise, Trim off the downy fluff. The star-scales and patterned mirror, The jade ruler and golden blade.
Huangbo sees the finest detail, Sitting firm, not letting the spring winds rise too high.
舉雲巖問道吾。大悲菩薩。用許多手眼作麼。吾云。如人夜中背手模枕子。巖云我會也。吾云。汝作麼生會。巖云。遍身是手眼。吾云。道即大殺道。只道得八成。巖云。師兄作麼生。吾云。通身是手眼。頌曰。
Yunyan asked Daowu, "Why does the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion have so many hands and eyes?"
Daowu said, "It's like someone groping for a pillow behind their back in the dark."
Yunyan said, "I understand."
Daowu asked, "How do you understand it?"
Yunyan said, "The whole body is hands and eyes."
Daowu said, "You've said quite a lot, but you've only expressed eighty percent of it."
Yunyan asked, "How would you put it, elder brother?"
Daowu said, "The entire being is hands and eyes."
A verse says:
一竅虛通。 八面玲瓏。 無象無私。 春入律不留不礙月行空。
清淨寶目功德臂。 遍身何似通身是。
現前手眼顯全機。 大用縱橫何諱忌。
One opening, empty and clear. Eight sides, exquisite and bright. Without form, without self. Spring enters the rhythm, not lingering, not hindering, the moon moves through the sky.
Pure precious eyes, arms of merit. Everywhere in the body, how is it like the whole body being this?
Before you, hands and eyes reveal the complete function. The great function moves freely—what is there to conceal or avoid?
舉雪峯在德山作飯頭。一日飯遲。德山托盋至法堂。峯云。這老漢。鐘未鳴鼓未響。托盋向什麼處去。山便歸方丈。峯舉似巖頭。頭云。大小德山。不會末後句。山聞令侍者喚巖頭。問汝不肯老僧那。巖遂密啟其意。山乃休去。至明日陞堂。果與尋常不同。巖撫掌笑云。且喜老漢會末後句。他後天下人。不奈伊何。頌曰。
Xuefeng served as the head cook under Deshan. One day, the meal was late. Deshan picked up his bowl and went to the Dharma hall. Xuefeng said, "This old man, the bell hasn't rung, the drum hasn't sounded—where are you going with your bowl?" Deshan then returned to his quarters. Xuefeng recounted this to Yantou. Yantou said, "Deshan, great as he is, still doesn’t understand the final phrase." When Deshan heard this, he had his attendant summon Yantou and asked, "Do you disapprove of this old monk?" Yantou then secretly explained his meaning. Deshan then let it rest. The next day, when Deshan ascended the Dharma seat, his manner was indeed different from usual. Yantou clapped his hands and laughed, saying, "I’m glad the old man understands the final phrase. From now on, no one in the world will be able to outdo him." A verse says:
末後句會也無。 德山父子太含胡。 座中亦有江南客。
莫向人前唱鷓鴣。
The final word, is it understood? Father and son of Deshan are too vague. Among the seats, there is also a guest from the south. Do not sing the partridge song before others.
舉密師伯與洞山行次。見白兔子面前走過。密云。俊哉。山云作麼生。密云。如白衣拜相。山云。老老大大。作這箇語話。密云。儞又作麼生。山云。積代簪纓。暫時落薄。頌曰。
Master Ju Mi and Master Dongshan were walking together when they saw a white rabbit run past in front of them. Mi said, “How splendid!” Shan asked, “What do you mean?” Mi said, “Like a commoner becoming prime minister.” Shan said, “Old as you are, you still talk like this.” Mi said, “And what would you say?” Shan said, “A noble family, fallen on hard times for a while.”
A verse says:
抗力霜雪。 平步雲霄。 下惠黜國。 相如過橋。 蕭曹謀略能成漢。
巢許身心欲避堯。 寵辱若驚深自信。 真情參跡混漁樵。
Resisting the frost and snow, Walking calmly among the clouds. Xi Hui was dismissed from his state, Xiangru crossed the bridge. Xiao He and Cao Shen’s strategies helped establish the Han.
Chao Fu and Xu You sought to avoid Yao’s reign. Honor and disgrace startle, yet deep within lies confidence. True nature mingles with the traces of fishermen and woodcutters.
舉嚴陽尊者問趙州。一物不將來時如何。州云。放下著。嚴云。一物不將來。放下箇什麼。州云。恁麼則擔取去。頌曰。
Venerable Yanyang asked Zhaozhou, "When not a single thing is brought along, what then?" Zhaozhou said, "Put it down." Yanyang said, "Not a single thing is brought along—what is there to put down?" Zhaozhou said, "In that case, pick it up and carry it away." A verse says:
不防行細輸先手。 自覺心麁愧撞頭。 局破腰間斧柯爛。
洗清凡骨共仙遊。
Do not rush to make the first move with a careless hand. Realizing my mind is coarse, I regret striking headlong. The game is lost, the axe handle at my waist has rotted away. Washing clean this mortal frame, I wander with the immortals.
舉金剛經云。若為人輕賤。是人先世罪業。應墮惡道。以今世人輕賤故。先世罪業則為銷滅。頌曰。
The Diamond Sutra says: "If someone is despised and looked down upon by others, it is because of the evil karma from their past lives that should have caused them to fall into the miserable realms. But because they are despised and looked down upon in this present life, the evil karma from their past lives is thereby eliminated."
The verse says:
綴綴功過。 膠膠因果。 鏡外狂奔演若多。 杖頭擊著破竈墮。
竈墮破來相賀。 却道從前辜負我。
Tallying merits and faults, entangled in cause and effect, Like Yajñadatta running madly before the mirror. A strike from the staff—the broken stove falls.
When the stove breaks, they congratulate each other, Saying, "Before this, I was wronged."
舉僧問青林。學人徑往時如何。林云。死蛇當大路。勸子莫當頭。僧云。當頭時如何。林云。喪子命根。僧云。不當頭時如何。林云。亦無回避處。僧云。正當恁麼時如何。林云。却失也。僧云未審。向什麼處去也。林云。草深無覓處。僧云。和尚也須隄防始得。林撫掌云。一等是箇毒氣。頌曰。
A monk asked Qinglin, "When a student goes straight ahead, what then?" Qinglin said, "A dead snake lies across the road—I advise you not to meet it head-on." The monk asked, "What if I meet it head-on?" Qinglin said, "You lose your life-root." The monk asked, "What if I don't meet it head-on?" Qinglin said, "There's no place to avoid it either." The monk asked, "What about right at such a moment?" Qinglin said, "Then it's already lost." The monk asked, "I wonder, where has it gone?" Qinglin said, "The grass is deep—no place to find it." The monk said, "Even you, Master, must be on guard." Qinglin clapped his hands and said, "This is all the same poisonous energy."
A verse says:
三老暗轉柁。 孤舟夜回頭。 蘆花兩岸雪。 煙水一江秋。
風力扶帆行不棹。 笛聲喚月下滄洲。
The three elders quietly turn the rudder, A lone boat turns back in the night. Reed flowers like snow on both shores, Mist and water, one river of autumn.
Wind fills the sails, no need for oars, A flute calls the moon down to the blue isle.
舉劉鐵磨到溈山。山云。老牸牛汝來也。磨云。來日臺山大會齋。和尚還去麼。山放身臥。磨便出去。頌曰。
Liu Tiemo arrived at Mount Wei. The mountain master said, "Old cow, you've come." Tiemo replied, "Tomorrow there is a grand feast at Mount Tai. Will you go, Master?" The mountain master lay down on his side. Tiemo then left.
The verse says:
百戰成功老太平。 優柔誰肯苦爭衡。 玉鞭金馬閑終日。
明月清風富一生。
After countless battles, success brings peace in old age. Who would willingly endure the hardships of constant strife? With jade whip and golden steed, days pass in leisurely ease, Beneath the bright moon and gentle breeze, a life of wealth and ease.
舉僧問乾峯。十方薄伽梵。一路涅槃門。未審。路頭在什麼處。峯以拄杖一畫云。在這裡。僧舉問雲門。門云。扇子踣跳上三十三天。築著帝釋鼻孔。東海鯉魚打一棒。雨似盆傾。會麼會麼。頌曰。
A monk asked Qianfeng, "All the Buddhas in the ten directions share one path to Nirvana. I wonder, where is the entrance to this path?"
Qianfeng drew a line with his staff and said, "Right here."
The monk later asked Yunmen about this. Yunmen said, "A fan leaps up to the Heaven of the Thirty-Three and strikes Indra on the nose. A carp in the Eastern Sea gets a whack, and rain pours down like overturned basins. Do you understand? Do you understand?"
A verse says:
入手還將死馬醫。 反魂香欲起君危。 一期拶出通身汗。
方信儂家不惜眉。
When a hand reaches out to heal a dying horse, The incense of revival seeks to save you from peril. In one moment, sweat breaks out all over the body, Then you'll believe I never spared my own brow.
舉米胡令僧問仰山。今時人還假悟否。山云。悟即不無。爭奈落第二頭何。僧回舉似米胡。胡深肯之。頌曰。
Mi Hu instructed a monk to ask Yangshan, "Do people nowadays still need to rely on awakening?" Yangshan replied, "Awakening is not absent, but how can one avoid falling into second-hand understanding?" The monk returned and reported this to Mi Hu, who deeply affirmed it. A verse says:
第二頭分悟破迷。 快須攃手捨筌罤。 功兮未盡成胼拇。
智也難知覺噬臍。 兔老氷盤秋露泣。
鳥寒玉樹曉風凄。 持來大仰辨真假。 痕玷渾無貴白珪。
The second head awakens, breaking through delusion. Quickly you must let go of the net and trap. Effort not yet complete, like fingers grown together, Wisdom still unclear, as if biting your own navel.
The old rabbit weeps on an icy plate of autumn dew, The cold bird shivers in jade trees with dawn's bitter wind. Bring it to Dayang to discern true from false— A flawless white jade bears no stain at all.
舉趙州問投子。大死底人却活時如何。投云。不許夜行。投明須到。頌曰。
Zhaozhou asked Touzi: "When someone who has died the great death comes back to life, what then?"
Touzi replied: "No traveling by night—arrive by dawn."
A verse says:
芥城劫石妙窮初。 活眼環中照廓虛。 不許夜行投曉到。
家音未肯付鴻魚。
The eon's stone city, wondrous from the start. The living eye within the circle illuminates the vast emptiness. Not allowing night travelers to arrive at dawn. The voice of home has yet to be entrusted to wild geese or fish.
舉子昭首座問法眼。和尚開堂。承嗣何人。眼云地藏。昭云。太辜負長慶先師。眼云。某甲不會長慶一轉語。昭云何不問。眼云。萬像之中獨露身。意作麼生。昭乃豎起拂子。眼云。此是長慶處學得底。首座分上作麼生。昭無語。眼云。只如萬像之中獨露身。是撥萬像不撥萬像。昭云不撥。眼云兩箇。參隨左右皆云。撥萬像。眼云。萬像之中獨露身𡁠。頌曰。
A scholar named Zhao, who was the head monk, asked Master Fayan, "When you, venerable master, opened the hall to teach, from whom did you receive the Dharma transmission?"
Fayan replied, "From Dizang."
Zhao said, "That is a great disservice to our late master Changqing."
Fayan said, "I don't understand one of Changqing's turning phrases."
Zhao asked, "Why not ask about it?"
Fayan said, "'Amidst all phenomena, the solitary body is revealed.' What does this mean?"
Zhao then raised his whisk.
Fayan said, "This is what you learned from Changqing. But what about your own understanding as head monk?"
Zhao was silent.
Fayan said, "Take the phrase 'Amidst all phenomena, the solitary body is revealed.' Does it negate all phenomena, or not?"
Zhao said, "It does not negate them."
Fayan said, "Now there are two."
The attendants on both sides all said, "It negates all phenomena."
Fayan said, "'Amidst all phenomena, the solitary body is revealed.'"
A verse says:
離念見佛。 破塵出經。 現成家法。 誰立門庭。 月逐舟行江練淨。
春隨草上燒痕青。 撥不撥聽丁寧。
三徑就荒歸便得。 舊時松菊尚芳馨。
Leaving thoughts behind, one sees the Buddha. Breaking through the dust, the sutra emerges. The family teaching is already complete— Who needs to set up a separate gate? The moon follows the boat, the river pure as silk.
Spring returns as grass grows over scorched earth. To act or not to act—listen carefully. The three paths may be overgrown, but returning is easy— The pines and chrysanthemums of old still carry their fragrance.
舉僧問首山。如何是佛。山云。新婦騎驢阿家牽。頌曰。
A monk asked Shoushan, "What is Buddha?" Shoushan replied, "The bride rides the donkey, the mother-in-law leads it." A verse says:
新婦騎驢阿家牽。 體段風流得自然。 堪笑効顰隣舍女。
向人添醜不成妍。
The bride rides the donkey, her mother-in-law leads the way. Graceful and natural, in every move they sway. How laughable the neighbor’s girl who tries to imitate— She only adds to her own awkward state.
舉僧問九峯。如何是頭。峯云。開眼不覺曉。僧云。如何是尾。峯云。不坐萬年床。僧云。有頭無尾時如何。峯云。終是不貴。僧云。有尾無頭時如何。峯云。雖飽無力。僧云。直得頭尾相稱時如何。峯云。兒孫得力室內不知。頌曰。
A monk asked Jiufeng, "What is the head?" Jiufeng said, "Opening your eyes, yet not noticing the dawn." The monk asked, "What is the tail?" Jiufeng said, "Not sitting on the ten-thousand-year throne." The monk asked, "What about having a head but no tail?" Jiufeng said, "In the end, it is not precious." The monk asked, "What about having a tail but no head?" Jiufeng said, "Though full, it lacks strength." The monk asked, "What about when head and tail are perfectly matched?" Jiufeng said, "The descendants gain strength, but those inside the house do not know." A verse says:
規圓矩方。 用行舍藏。 鈍置棲蘆之鳥。 進退觸藩之羊。
喫人家飯。 臥自家床。 雲騰致雨。 露結為霜。
玉線相投透針鼻。 錦絲不斷吐梭腸。
石女機停兮夜色向午。 木人路轉兮月影移央。
Round as a compass, square as a ruler. Act when needed, withdraw when not. The dull bird nests in the reeds, The ram butts the fence, forward and back.
Eat the food of others, Sleep in your own bed. Clouds rise and bring rain, Dew gathers and turns to frost.
A jade thread passes through the needle's eye, Brocade silk flows unbroken from the shuttle's heart.
The stone maiden stops her loom—midnight approaches; The wooden man turns the path—the moon shifts its center.
舉華嚴經云。我今普見一切眾生。具有如來智慧德相。但以妄想執著而不證得。頌曰。
The Flower Adornment Sutra states: "I now see that all beings universally possess the wisdom and virtuous marks of the Tathāgata. It is only due to deluded thoughts and attachments that they do not realize it." A verse says:
天蓋地載。 成團成塊。 周法界而無邊。 折隣虛而無內。
及盡玄微。 誰分向背。 佛祖來償口業債。
問取南泉王老師。 人人只喫一莖菜。
The heavens cover, the earth supports. Forming masses, forming lumps. Encompassing the dharma realm without boundaries, Breaking down the tiniest void without an inside.
When the profound subtleties are exhausted, Who can distinguish front from back? Buddhas and patriarchs come to repay the karmic debt of speech.
Ask the venerable teacher Wang of Nanquan: Why does each person only eat one stalk of vegetable?
舉僧問夾山。撥塵見佛時如何。山云。直須揮劍。若不揮劍。漁父棲巢。後僧舉問石霜。撥塵見佛時如何。霜云。渠無國土。何處逢渠。僧回舉似夾山。山上堂云。門庭施設。不如老僧。入理深談。猶較石霜百步。頌曰。
A monk asked Master Jiashan, "When one brushes away the dust and sees the Buddha, what then?" Jiashan said, "You must swing the sword. If you do not swing the sword, the fisherman will nest in the tree."
Later, the monk brought this up and asked Master Shishuang, "When one brushes away the dust and sees the Buddha, what then?" Shishuang said, "He has no land. Where would you meet him?"
The monk returned and reported this to Jiashan. Jiashan then addressed the assembly, saying, "In setting up the gate and courtyard, I am not as good as this old monk. But when it comes to speaking deeply of the truth, I still surpass Shishuang by a hundred paces."
A verse says:
拂牛劍氣洗兵。 威定亂歸功更是誰。 一旦氛埃清四海。
垂衣皇化自無為。
Sweeping away the dust of war with the sword's edge, Who truly claims the merit of quelling chaos and restoring peace? Once the mists of conflict clear across the four seas, The emperor rules in serenity, effortless and at ease.
舉南泉示眾云。三世諸佛不知有。狸奴白牯却知有。頌曰。
Nanquan addressed the assembly, saying, "The Buddhas of the three times do not know 'it exists,' yet the wildcat and the white ox do know 'it exists.'" A verse says:
跛跛挈挈。 㲯㲯𣯶𣯶。 百不可取。 一無所堪。 默默自知田地穩。
騰騰誰謂肚皮憨。 普周法界渾成飯。 鼻孔纍垂信飽參。
Hobbling and stumbling, Unsteady and faltering, Nothing can be grasped, Nothing is reliable. In silence, I know the field of mind is steady.
Who says this carefree belly is foolish? The dharma realm is all transformed into rice, Nostrils hanging low, truly satisfied in contemplation.
舉進山主問修山主云。明知生不生性。為什麼為生之所留。修云。筍畢竟成竹。如今作篾使還得麼。進云。汝向後自悟在。修云。某甲只如此。上座意旨如何。進云。遮箇是監院房。那箇是典座房。修便禮拜。頌曰。
The monastic official Ju Jin asked the monastic official Xiu: "If one clearly knows that the nature of birth is unborn, why is one still bound by birth?" Xiu replied: "A bamboo shoot eventually becomes bamboo. Can it now be used as a bamboo strip?" Jin said: "You will understand this yourself in the future." Xiu said: "I only see it this way. What is your intention, Venerable?" Jin said: "This is the superintendent's room, and that is the kitchen manager's room." Xiu then bowed in reverence. The verse says:
豁落亡依高閑不覉。 家邦平貼到人稀。 些些力量分堦級。
蕩蕩身心絕是非。 是非絕。 介立大方無軌轍。
Free and unbound, with no attachments, The land is peaceful, people are few. A little strength, a clear order, A vast body and mind, free from right and wrong.
Right and wrong are gone, Standing alone in the great way, leaving no tracks.
舉翠巖夏末示眾云。一夏已來。為兄弟說話。看翠巖眉毛在麼。保福云。作賊人心虛。長慶云。生也雲門云關。頌曰。
At the end of summer, Master Cuiyan addressed the assembly, saying: "Throughout this summer, I have been speaking for the sake of my fellow practitioners. Take a look—are my eyebrows still there?"
Baofu remarked, "A thief feels guilty in his heart."
Changqing said, "They are alive!"
Yunmen declared, "Shut the gate."
A verse says:
作賊心過人膽。 歷歷縱橫對機感。 保福雲門也垂鼻欺脣。
翠巖長慶也脩眉映眼。 杜禪和有何限。
剛道意句一齊剗。 埋沒自己也飲氣吞聲。
帶累先宗也面牆檐版。
A thief's heart outruns his courage. Clearly and directly, they respond to the opportunity. Baofu and Yunmen also lower their noses and deceive with their lips. Cuiyan and Changqing also raise their eyebrows and meet with their eyes. What limits do the meditating monks have? They stubbornly say meaning and words are both cut away. Burying themselves, they swallow their breath and silence their voices. Burdening their ancestors, they face the wall and bear the board.
舉仰山問中邑。如何是佛性義。邑云。我與爾說箇譬喻。如室有六窓中安一獼猴。外有人喚云狌狌。獼猴即應。如是六窓俱喚俱應。仰云。祇如獼猴睡時。又作麼生。邑乃下禪床把住云。狌狌我與爾相見。頌曰。
Yangshan asked Zhongyi, "What is the meaning of Buddha-nature?"
Zhongyi replied, "Let me give you an analogy. Imagine a room with six windows, and inside there is a monkey. If someone outside calls out, 'Monkey!' the monkey responds. In the same way, no matter which of the six windows the call comes from, the monkey answers from each one."
Yangshan asked, "But what happens when the monkey is asleep?"
Zhongyi then stepped down from his meditation seat, took hold of Yangshan, and said, "Monkey, now I see you."
A verse says:
凍眠雪屋歲摧頹。 窈窕蘿門夜不開。 寒槁園林看變態。
春風吹起律筒灰。
Frozen in sleep, the snow hut's years wear away, The secluded vine-covered door stays shut at night. In the cold, withered garden, watch the changing forms, As the spring wind stirs the ashes in the bamboo tube.
舉僧問曹山。靈衣不掛時如何。山云。曹山今日孝滿。僧云。孝滿後如何。山云。曹山好顛酒。頌曰。
A monk asked Caoshan, "When the spiritual robe is not worn, what then?"
Caoshan said, "Today, Caoshan's mourning period is complete."
The monk asked, "After the mourning is complete, what then?"
Caoshan said, "Caoshan is fond of sweet wine."
A verse says:
清白門庭四絕隣。 長年關掃不容塵。 光明轉處傾殘月。
爻象分時却建寅。 新滿孝便逢春。
醉步狂歌任墮巾。 散髮夷猶誰管系。 太平無事酒顛人。
A pure and clean household, with four secluded neighbors. Year after year, the gate is swept, no dust allowed. Where the light shifts, the waning moon tilts. When the hexagram lines divide, the year begins anew.
With the new moon, filial piety meets the spring. Drunken steps, wild songs, letting the scarf fall. Hair loose, wandering freely—who would restrain? In times of peace and calm, a wine-ecstatic soul.
舉僧問法眼。承教有言。從無住本立一切法。如何是無住本。眼云。形興未質名起未名。頌曰。
A monk asked Dharma Eye, "The teachings say, 'From the root of non-abiding, all phenomena are established.' What is the root of non-abiding?" Dharma Eye said, "Forms arise before substance is fixed; names arise before they are named." The verse says:
沒蹤跡。 斷消息。 白雲無根。 清風何色。 散乾蓋而非心。
持坤輿而有力。 洞千古之淵源。 造萬像之模則。
剎塵道會也處處普賢。 樓閣門開也頭頭彌勒。
No trace left behind. No news to be found. White clouds have no roots, The clear breeze, what color is it?
Scattering the heavenly canopy, yet not of the mind, Holding the earth’s carriage with great strength. Penetrating the deep source of a thousand ages, Creating the pattern for all phenomena.
In every speck of dust, the Way is met—everywhere is Samantabhadra. When the tower gates open—at every turn is Maitreya.
舉瑞巖問巖頭。如何是本常理。頭云動也。巖云。動時如何。頭云。不見本常理。巖佇思。頭云。肯即未脫根塵。不肯即永沈生死。頌曰。
Master Ruiyan asked Yantou, "What is the fundamental, unchanging principle?"
Yantou said, "Movement."
Ruiyan asked, "What about when it moves?"
Yantou replied, "Then you don't see the fundamental, unchanging principle."
Ruiyan stood pondering.
Yantou said, "If you accept it, you're still entangled in the senses. If you reject it, you sink forever in the cycle of birth and death."
A verse says:
圓珠不穴大璞不琢。 道人所貴無稜角。 拈却肯路根塵空。
脫體無依活卓卓。
The perfect pearl needs no drilling, the uncarved jade needs no polishing. What the Wayfarer values has no sharp edges. Let go of the grasping mind, and the senses and their objects become empty. Free from all attachments, vibrant and alive.
舉首山示眾云。第一句薦得。與祖佛為師。第二句薦得。與人天為師。第三句薦得。自救不了。僧云。和尚是第幾句薦得。山云。月落三更穿市過。頌曰。
Raising his hand, the master addressed the assembly, saying: "If you grasp the first phrase, you become a teacher to the patriarchs and buddhas. If you grasp the second phrase, you become a teacher to humans and gods. If you grasp the third phrase, you cannot even save yourself." A monk asked, "Which phrase has the master grasped?" The master replied, "The moon sets at the third watch, passing through the marketplace." A verse says:
佛祖髑髏穿一串。 宮漏沈沈密傳箭。 人天機要發千鈞。
雲陣煇煇急飛電。 箇中人看轉變。
遇賤則貴。 貴則賤。 得珠罔象兮至道綿綿。 游刃亡牛兮赤心片片。
The Buddha's skull strung in a row. The palace water clock sinks deep, secret arrows fly. The crucial moment between human and heaven, a thousand jun released.
Cloud formations shimmer, lightning swiftly darts. Those within witness the transformation.
Meet the lowly, then become noble; Become noble, then turn lowly. Gain the pearl from the formless—the ultimate way stretches endlessly. Wield the blade, lose the ox—a heart of pure sincerity, piece by piece.
舉僧問仰山。和尚還識字否。山云隨分。僧乃右旋一匝云。是什麼字。山於地上書箇十字。僧左旋一匝云。是甚麼字。山改十字作卍字。僧畫一圓相。以兩手托。如脩羅掌日月勢云。是什麼字。山乃畫一圓相。圍却卍字。僧乃作樓至勢。山云。如是如是。汝善護持。頌曰。
A monk asked Yangshan, "Venerable, do you know characters?" Yangshan replied, "To some extent."
The monk then circled to the right once and said, "What character is this?" Yangshan wrote the character "ten" on the ground.
The monk circled to the left once and said, "What character is this?" Yangshan changed the "ten" character into a "swastika" character.
The monk drew a circle, holding it with both hands like Asura holding the sun and moon, and said, "What character is this?" Yangshan then drew a circle around the swastika.
The monk assumed the posture of Lojishi. Yangshan said, "Just so, just so. You must uphold it well."
A verse says:
道環之虛靡盈。 空印之字未形。 妙運天輪地軸。
密羅武緯文經。 放開揑聚。 獨立周行。 機發玄樞兮。
青天激電。 眼含紫光兮。 白日見星。
The Way's circle is empty yet never full. The seal of emptiness bears no written form. Mysteriously turning heaven's wheel and earth's axis.
Secretly woven with martial lines and civil threads. Releasing and gathering, Standing alone yet moving everywhere. When the pivot of mystery is triggered—
Blue sky splits with lightning. When the eye holds violet light—
The bright sun reveals stars.
舉僧問雲門。如何是超佛越祖之談。門云胡餅。頌曰。
A monk asked Yunmen, "What is the speech that surpasses the Buddha and transcends the patriarchs?" Yunmen said, "Flatbread." A verse says:
胡餅云超佛祖談。 句中無味若為參。 衲僧一日如知飽。
方見雲門面不慚。
The monk Yunmen once spoke of flatbread, But the words themselves hold no flavor to be found. If a monk can be satisfied for a single day, Then he truly sees Yunmen's face, without shame.
舉長沙令僧問會和尚。未見南泉時如何。會良久。僧云。見後如何。會云。不可別有也。僧回舉似長沙。沙云。百尺竿頭坐底人。雖然得入未為真。百尺竿頭須進步。十方世界是全身。僧云。百尺竿頭如何進步。沙云。朗州山澧州水。僧云不會。沙云。四海五湖王化裡。頌曰。
A monk from Changsha asked Master Hui, "Before you met Nanquan, what was it like?"
Hui remained silent for a long while.
The monk asked, "And after you met him?"
Hui said, "There is nothing else."
The monk returned and reported this to Changsha.
Changsha said:
"One who sits atop a hundred-foot pole, Though they have entered, is not yet true. Atop the hundred-foot pole, they must take a step forward— The whole universe is their very body."
The monk asked, "How does one take a step forward atop a hundred-foot pole?"
Changsha said, "Mountains of Langzhou, waters of Lizhou."
The monk said, "I don’t understand."
Changsha said, "Within the king’s domain lie all the seas and lakes."
A verse says:
玉人夢破一聲雞。 轉盻生涯色色齊。 有信風雷催出蟄。
無言桃李自成蹊。 及時節力耕犁。 誰怕春疇沒脛泥。
The beauty's dream breaks with the rooster's cry, Life's shifting scenes in perfect order lie. With thunder's call, the dormant world awakes, While silent peach and plum their own path makes.
Now is the time to plow with all your might, Who fears the spring fields' mud, so deep and bright?
舉龍牙問翠微。如何是祖師西來意。微云。與我過禪版來。牙取禪版與翠微。微接得便打。牙云。打即任打。要且無祖師意。又問臨際。如何是祖師西來意。際云。與我過蒲團來。牙取蒲團與臨際。際接得便打。牙云。打即任打。要且無祖師意。牙後住院。有僧問。和尚當年問翠微臨際祖師意。二尊宿明也未。牙云。明即明矣。要且無祖師意。頌曰。
Longya asked Cuiwei, "What is the meaning of the Patriarch coming from the West?"
Cuiwei said, "Pass me the meditation board."
Longya took the meditation board and handed it to Cuiwei. As soon as Cuiwei received it, he struck Longya.
Longya said, "You may strike me if you wish, but there is still no meaning of the Patriarch."
He then asked Linji, "What is the meaning of the Patriarch coming from the West?"
Linji said, "Pass me the meditation cushion."
Longya took the cushion and handed it to Linji. As soon as Linji received it, he struck Longya.
Longya said, "You may strike me if you wish, but there is still no meaning of the Patriarch."
Later, when Longya became abbot, a monk asked him, "When you asked Cuiwei and Linji about the meaning of the Patriarch, did those two venerable masters understand?"
Longya replied, "They understood, yes—but there is still no meaning of the Patriarch."
A verse says:
蒲團禪版對龍牙。 何事當機不作家。 未意成褫明目下。
恐將流落在天涯。 虛空那掛劍。
星漢却浮槎。 不萠草解藏香象。 無底籃能著活蛇。
今日江湖何障礙。 通方津渡有舡車。
A meditation cushion faces the dragon's fang, Why hesitate to act when the moment arrives? Before intention forms, clarity is lost, Fear of drifting aimlessly under the sky.
The void cannot hold a sword, Yet stars and rivers float on a raft. No grass can hide a fragrant elephant, A bottomless basket holds a living snake.
What barriers remain in today's rivers and lakes? Where the path is clear, boats and carts find their way.
舉玄沙到蒲田縣。百戲迎之。次日問小塘長老。昨日許多喧鬧。向什麼處去。小塘提起袈裟角。沙云。料掉沒交涉。頌曰。
Master Xuansha arrived at Putian County, where a hundred entertainments greeted him. The next day, he asked Elder Xiaotang, "All that commotion yesterday—where has it gone?" Xiaotang lifted the corner of his kasaya. Xuansha said, "That misses the point entirely."
A verse says:
夜壑藏舟。 澄源著棹。 龍魚未知水為命。 折筯不妨聊一攪。
玄沙師。 小塘老。 函蓋箭鋒。 探竿影草。
潛縮也老龜巢蓮。 遊戲也華鱗弄藻。
The boat hides in the night gorge; Clear the source, grasp the oar. Dragon and fish do not know water is their life— Snap a chopstick, stir it once, no strife.
Master Xuansha, Elder Xiaotang, Arrow-tip covered by a sheath, Probing rod, shadow grass.
Withdraw like the old turtle nesting in lotus, Play like colorful fish among the algae.
舉雲門云。聞聲悟道。見色明心。觀世音菩薩。將錢買胡餅。放下手却是饅頭。頌曰。
Master Yunmen said, "Hearing a sound, one awakens to the Way; seeing a form, the mind becomes clear. Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva takes money to buy a sesame cake—but upon putting it down, it turns into a steamed bun."
A verse says:
出門躍馬掃攙搶。 萬國煙塵自肅清。 十二處亡閑影響。
三千界放淨光明。
Riding out, leaping on horseback to sweep away the spears and lances, The smoke and dust of all nations naturally settle into clarity. The twelve sense fields vanish, leaving no idle traces behind, The three thousand realms radiate with pure, bright light.
舉溈山問道吾。甚麼處來。吾云。看病來。山云。有幾人病。吾云。有病者不病者。山云。不病者莫是智頭陀麼。吾云。病與不病。總不干他事。速道速道。山云。道得也與他沒交涉。頌曰。
Master Weishan asked Daowu, "Where have you come from?" Daowu said, "From visiting the sick." Weishan asked, "How many are sick?" Daowu said, "There are those who are sick and those who are not sick." Weishan said, "Isn't the one who is not sick Zhi Toutuo?" Daowu said, "Whether sick or not sick, it has nothing to do with him. Speak quickly, speak quickly!" Weishan said, "Even if I speak, it still has nothing to do with him."
The verse says:
妙藥何曾過口。 神醫莫能投手。 若存也渠本非無。
至虛也渠本非有。 不滅而生。 不亡而壽。
全超威音之前。 獨步劫空之後。 成平也天蓋地擎。
運轉也烏飛兔走。
The wondrous medicine never passes the lips, The divine healer cannot lay a hand. If it exists, it is not truly there; In utmost emptiness, it is not truly absent.
It does not perish, yet it is born; It does not vanish, yet it endures. Transcending all before the first sound, Alone it strides beyond the ages of emptiness.
In stillness, heaven covers and earth upholds; In motion, the raven flies and the hare runs.
舉俱胝和尚。凡有所問。只竪一指。頌曰。
The monk Juzhi would simply raise one finger in response to any question.
俱胝老子指頭禪。 三十年來用不殘。 信有道人方外術。
了無俗物眼前看。 所得甚簡施設彌寬。
大千剎海飲毛端。 鱗龍無限落誰手。 珍重任公把釣竿。
師復竪起一指云看。
The old master Juzhi's finger-pointing Zen, For thirty years, its use has never worn thin. Only those with true insight grasp its art beyond form, Free from worldly clutter before their eyes.
What is gained is simple, yet its application vast— The great chiliocosm drinks from a single hair's tip. Countless dragons and serpents—into whose hands do they fall? Treasure it well, like Ren Gong holding his fishing rod.
Once more, the master raised a finger and said, "Look."
舉肅宗帝問忠國師。百年後所須何物。國師云。與老僧作箇無縫塔。帝曰。請師塔樣。國師良久云。會麼。帝曰不會。國師云。吾有付法弟子耽源。却諳此事。後帝詔耽源。問此意如何。源云。相之南譚之北。中有黃金充一國。無影樹下合同舡。琉璃殿上無知識。頌曰。
Emperor Suzong once asked National Teacher Zhong, "What will you need after you pass away a hundred years from now?"
The National Teacher replied, "Build me a seamless pagoda."
The Emperor said, "Please show me the design."
The National Teacher remained silent for a long moment, then asked, "Do you understand?"
The Emperor said, "No, I do not."
The National Teacher said, "I have a Dharma-transmitting disciple named Danyuan who is well-versed in this matter."
Later, the Emperor summoned Danyuan and asked him about the meaning of this.
Danyuan replied:
"South of Xiang, north of Tan, In between, a land of gold stands. Beneath the shadowless tree, the boat is one, In the crystal hall, no knowledge is known."
A verse says:
孤迴迴圓陀陀。 眼力盡處高峩峩。 月落潭空夜色重。
雲收山瘦秋容多。 八封位正五行氣和。
身先在裡見來麼。 南陽父子兮却似知有。
西竺佛祖兮無如柰何。
Solitary, turning round and round, perfectly round and smooth. Where the eye's strength ends, the peaks stand tall and steep. The moon sets, the pool empties, the night's colors deepen.
Clouds clear, mountains thin, autumn's face grows more. The eight trigrams align, the five elements' breath harmonizes. The body is first within—do you see it coming?
The fathers and sons of Nanyang—they seem to know it exists. The Buddhas and ancestors of the Western Land—what can they do about it?
舉臨際問黃蘗。如何是佛法的的大意。蘗便打。如是三度。乃辭蘗見大愚。愚問。什麼處來。際云。黃蘗來。愚云。黃蘗有何言句。際云。某甲三問佛法的的大意。三度喫棒。不知有過無過。愚云。黃蘗恁麼老婆。為爾得徹困。更來問有過無過。際於言下大悟。頌曰。
Linji asked Huangbo, "What is the essential meaning of the Buddha's teaching?" Huangbo immediately struck him. This happened three times. So Linji took his leave from Huangbo and went to see Dayu. Dayu asked, "Where have you come from?" Linji said, "From Huangbo." Dayu said, "What did Huangbo have to say?" Linji said, "I asked three times about the essential meaning of the Buddha's teaching, and three times I was beaten. I don't know whether I was at fault or not." Dayu said, "Huangbo, with such grandmotherly kindness, went to all that trouble for your sake, and you still come here asking whether you were at fault or not?" At these words, Linji was greatly awakened.
A verse says:
九包之雛。 千里之駒。 真風度籥。 靈機發樞。 劈面來時。
飛電急。 迷雲破處太陽孤。 捋虎鬚見也無。
箇是雄雄大丈夫。
A fledgling in nine wrappings, a steed of a thousand miles. The true wind blows through the pipe, the spiritual pivot turns the axis. When it comes face to face, lightning flashes in haste; where the clouds of confusion part, the sun stands alone. Would you dare to stroke the tiger’s whiskers? Behold— this is the truly great, heroic one.
舉疎山到溈山。便問。承師有言。有句無句。如藤倚樹。忽然樹倒藤枯。句歸何處。溈山呵呵大笑。疎云。某甲四千里。賣布單來。和尚何得相弄。溈喚侍者。取錢還者上座。遂囑云。向後有獨眼龍。為子點破去在。後到明昭舉前話。昭云。溈山可謂。頭正尾正。只是不遇知音。疎復問。樹倒藤枯。句歸何處。昭云。更使溈山笑轉新。疎於言下有省。乃云。溈山元來笑裡有刀。頌曰。
Jushan arrived at Weishan. He asked, "I've heard you say, 'With words or without words, it's like a vine clinging to a tree. If the tree suddenly falls and the vine withers, where do the words go?'" Weishan burst into laughter.
Jushan said, "I've traveled four thousand li, carrying my cloth bundle. How can you, venerable one, toy with me like this?"
Weishan called an attendant and said, "Fetch some money and return it to this elder." Then he instructed Jushan, "Later, a one-eyed dragon will come along and clarify this for you."
Later, Jushan went to Mingzhao and recounted the previous exchange. Mingzhao said, "Weishan can be said to be upright from start to finish—only he didn't meet a true listener."
Jushan asked again, "When the tree falls and the vine withers, where do the words go?"
Mingzhao replied, "He made Weishan laugh all over again."
At these words, Jushan had a realization. He said, "So Weishan's laughter originally held a hidden blade."
A verse says:
藤枯樹倒問溈山。 大笑呵呵豈等閑。 笑裡有刀窺得破。
言思無路絕機關。
The vine withers, the tree falls, he asks Mount Wei. A great laugh, hearty and deep—no ordinary matter. Within that laughter hides a blade; see through it clearly. Words and thoughts find no path, all schemes cut off.
舉楞嚴經云。吾不見時。何不見吾不見之處。若見不見。自然非彼不見之相。若不見吾不見之地。自然非物。云何非汝。頌曰。
The *Shurangama Sutra* states: “When I do not see, why do I not see the place where I do not see? If you see that which does not see, naturally it is not the characteristic of not seeing. If you do not see the place where I do not see, naturally it is not an object. How then can it not be you?”
The verse says:
滄海瀝乾。 太虛充滿。 衲僧鼻孔長。 古佛舌頭短。
珠絲度九曲。 玉機纔一轉。 直下相逢誰識渠。
始信斯人不合伴。
The ocean drains dry, The great void fills full. The monk's nostrils are long, The ancient Buddha's tongue is short.
A pearl thread passes through nine bends, The jade loom turns but once. Meeting face to face, who recognizes him? Only then do I believe this one was never meant for company.
舉洞山示眾云。秋初夏末。兄弟或東或西。直須向萬里無寸草處去。又云。只如萬里無寸草處。作麼生去。石霜云。出門便是草。大陽云。直道不出門亦是草漫漫地。頌曰。
Master Dongshan addressed the assembly, saying: "As summer ends and autumn begins, fellow practitioners may travel east or west. You must go to the place where for ten thousand miles not a single blade of grass grows." He then added: "But tell me, how does one go to this place where for ten thousand miles not a single blade of grass grows?"
Master Shishuang responded: "Step outside the gate, and there is grass."
Master Dayang said: "To speak plainly, even without stepping outside the gate, the grass is already spreading everywhere."
A verse comments:
草漫漫。 門裡門外君自看。 荊棘林中下脚易。
夜明簾外轉身難。 看看幾何般。 且隨老木同寒瘠。
將逐春風入燒瘢。
The grass stretches vast and wide. Look closely, within the gate and outside. It is easy to step into the thorny grove,
But hard to turn away before the luminous curtain. Observe—how many kinds are there? Follow the old tree in its cold and barren state,
Then chase the spring wind into the scarred earth.
舉仰山夢往彌勒所居第二座。尊者白云。今日當第二座說法。山乃起。白椎云。摩訶衍法。離四句絕百非。謹白。頌曰。
Master Yangshan dreamt of going to Maitreya's dwelling and taking the second seat. The Venerable said, "Today, you shall give a teaching from the second seat." Yangshan then rose, struck the wooden block, and declared: "The Great Vehicle Dharma is beyond the four propositions and cuts off all one hundred negations. I respectfully announce this."
The verse says:
夢中擁衲參耆舊。 列聖森森坐其右。 當仁不讓犍穉鳴。
說法無畏師子吼。 心安如海。 膽量如斗。
鮫目淚流。 蚌腸珠剖。 譫語誰知泄我機。
厖眉應笑揚家魂。 離四句絕百非。 馬師父子病休毉。
In dreams, I donned my robe and met the elders of old; All the sages sat solemnly to my right. When it came to compassion, I did not yield—like the call of a young eagle, I taught the Dharma fearlessly, roaring like a lion.
My heart is as calm as the sea, My courage as vast as the measure of the heavens. Like a dragon shedding tears, Or an oyster revealing its pearl— Who understands these delirious words that reveal my truth?
The bushy-browed ones must laugh at my family’s spirit. Beyond the four propositions, beyond all dualities, The sickness of Master Ma and his disciples needs no cure.
舉南泉因陸亘大夫云。肇法師也甚奇怪。解道天地同根。萬物一體。泉指庭前牡丹云。大夫。時人見此一株花。如夢相似。頌曰。
Master Nanquan cited the case of Minister Lu Gen, who said: "Master Zhao was truly remarkable. He understood that heaven and earth share the same root, and all things are one body." Nanquan pointed to the peony in the courtyard and said: "Minister, when people see this flower, it is as if they are in a dream." The verse says:
照徹離微造化根。 紛紜出沒見其門。 游神劫外問何有。
著眼身前知妙存。 虎嘯蕭蕭巖吹作。
龍吟冉冉洞雲昏。 南泉點破時人夢。 要識堂堂補處尊。
Illuminating the subtle root of all creation, Through endless forms its gateway is revealed. Journeying beyond kalpas, what remains? Look before you—the wondrous presence is known.
The tiger's roar echoes through mountain winds, The dragon's hum drifts in the cave's dim mist. Nanquan awakens the dreams of this age, Revealing the majestic, complete Venerable One.
舉雲門大師云。乾坤之內。宇宙之間。中有一寶。祕在形山。拈燈籠向佛殿裡。將三門來燈籠上。頌曰。
Master Yunmen said, "Within heaven and earth, throughout the cosmos, there is a single treasure, hidden in the mountain of form." He then raised the lantern toward the Buddha hall, and brought the temple gate to the lantern.
The verse says:
收盡餘懷厭事華。 歸來何所是生涯。 爛柯樵子疑無路。
掛樹壺公妙有家。 夜水金波浮桂影。
秋風雪陣擁蘆花。 寒魚著底不吞𩚵。 興盡清歌却轉槎。
Having set aside all worldly cares, weary of life's glamour, What path remains upon returning? Where does one's journey lead? The woodcutter of Lanke, axe handle rotted, doubts there is no way, Yet Hukong, hanging his gourd upon a tree, finds a wondrous home.
Moonlight on night waters, golden ripples cradle cassia shadows, Autumn winds, like a snowstorm, embrace the reed flowers. Cold fish linger at the bottom, refusing to take the bait, As my spirit finds its limit, a clear song turns the raft back.
舉魯祖問南泉。摩尼珠人不識。如來藏裡親收得。如何是藏。泉云。王老師與爾往來者是。祖云。不往來者。泉云。亦是藏。祖云。如何是珠泉召云師祖。祖應諾。泉云去。汝不會我語。頌曰。
Master Luzu asked Nanquan, "The Mani Pearl, people do not recognize it; it is intimately stored within the Tathagata-garbha. What is the 'garbha'?"
Quan said, "It is that which interacts with you, Old Teacher Wang."
The Master said, "What about that which does not interact?"
Quan said, "That is also the garbha."
The Master said, "What is the pearl?"
Quan called out, "Master!"
The Master responded.
Quan said, "Go. You do not understand my words."
A verse says:
別是非明得喪。 應之心指諸掌。 往來不往來。
只者俱是藏。 輪王賞之有功。 黃帝得之罔象。
轉樞機能伎倆。 明眼衲僧無鹵莽。
Distinguish right from wrong, understand gain and loss. Respond with the mind, point to the palm. Coming and going, or not coming and going— all of these are within the treasury.
The Wheel-Turning King rewards those with merit, The Yellow Emperor attains it without form.
Turning the pivot, skill and means— A clear-eyed monk acts without haste.
舉洞山不安。僧問。和尚病。還有不病者麼。山云有。僧云。不病者還看和尚否。山云。老僧看他有分。僧云。和尚看他時如何。山云。則不見有病。頌曰。
Dongshan was unwell. A monk asked, "Venerable, when you are ill, is there something within you that is not ill?" Dongshan said, "Yes, there is." The monk asked, "Does that which is not ill see you, Venerable?" Dongshan said, "This old monk has a share in seeing it." The monk asked, "When you see it, Venerable, what is it like?" Dongshan said, "Then I do not see any illness." The verse says:
卸却臭皮袋。 拈轉赤肉團。 當頭鼻孔正。 直下髑髏乾。
老毉不見從來癖。 少子相看向近難。
野水瘦時秋潦退。 白雲斷處舊山寒。 須剿絕莫顢頇。
轉盡無功伊就位。 孤標不與汝同盤。
Shed the foul skin bag, Turn over the red flesh lump. Right at the head, the nostrils straight, Down below, the skull bone dries.
The old doctor sees not the longstanding ailment, The young ones look toward what is near yet hard to reach.
When wild waters thin, autumn floods recede; Where white clouds break, the old mountain grows cold. You must cut it off completely, no half-heartedness.
When turning exhausts all effort, he takes his place— Alone and unmatched, he does not share your plate.
舉臨際問院主。甚處來。主云。州中糶黃米來。際云。糶得盡麼。主云。糶得盡。際以拄杖一畫云。還糶得這箇麼。主便喝。際便打。次典座至。際舉前話。座云。院主不會和尚意。際云。爾又作麼生。座便禮拜。際亦打。頌曰。
Juzhou Linji asked the temple superintendent, "Where have you come from?" The superintendent said, "I came from the city to sell yellow rice." Linji asked, "Did you sell it all?" The superintendent said, "Yes, I sold it all." Linji drew a line on the ground with his staff and asked, "Can you sell this?" The superintendent shouted. Linji struck him.
Later, the cook arrived. Linji recounted what had happened. The cook said, "The superintendent didn’t understand your meaning, Master." Linji asked, "And what about you?" The cook bowed in respect. Linji struck him as well.
The verse says:
臨際全機格調高。 棒頭有眼辨秋毫。 掃除狐兔家風峻。
變化魚龍雷火燒。 活人劍殺人刀。
倚天照雪利吹毛。 一等令行滋味別。 十分痛處是誰遭。
Linji's complete method is of the highest style, With a keen eye in his staff, he discerns the finest details. He sweeps away the foxes and rabbits, his household tradition stern; Transforming fish into dragons, burned by thunder and fire. The sword that gives life, the blade that takes it, Leaning against the sky, reflecting snow, sharp enough to split a hair. When the single command is issued, the flavor is distinct— Who is it that endures the deepest pain?
舉九峯在石霜作侍者。霜遷化。後眾欲請堂中首座接續住持。峯不肯。乃云。待某甲問過。若會先師意。如先師侍奉。遂問。先師道。休去歇去。一念萬年去。寒灰枯木去。一條白練去。且道。明什麼邊事。座云。明一色邊事。峯云。恁麼則未會先師意在。座云。爾不肯我那裝香來。座乃焚香云。我若不會先師意。香煙起處脫去不得。言訖便坐脫。峯乃撫其背云。坐脫立亡則不無。先師意未夢見在。頌曰。
At Shishuang Monastery, Jiu Feng served as an attendant to Master Shishuang. After the master passed away, the assembly wished to invite the head monk of the hall to succeed him as abbot. Jiu Feng did not agree. He said, “Wait until I have asked him a question. If he understands our late teacher’s intention, then he may serve as our teacher just as the late master did.”
He then asked, “Our late teacher said, ‘Let it rest, let it cease. One thought for ten thousand years. Cold ashes, withered wood. A strip of white silk.’ Tell me, what matter does this clarify?”
The head monk replied, “It clarifies the matter of one color.”
Jiu Feng said, “If so, then you have not understood our late teacher’s intention.”
The head monk said, “You do not accept me? Then bring incense.” The head monk then lit incense and said, “If I do not understand our late teacher’s intention, may I not be released when the smoke rises.” Having said this, he sat and passed away.
Jiu Feng patted his back and said, “Sitting in liberation and standing in death—that is not lacking. But our late teacher’s intention—you haven’t even dreamed of it.”
A verse says:
石霜一宗親傳九峯。 香煙脫去正脈難通。 月巢鶴作千年夢。
雪屋人迷一色功。 坐斷十方猶點額。 密移一步看飛龍。
The Stone Frost lineage was personally passed to Nine Peaks. When the incense smoke fades, the true path grows hard to trace. In a moonlit nest, the crane dreams for a thousand years. In a snow-covered hut, one loses sight of the single-colored work. Sitting still through the ten directions, yet still marked on the forehead. Take one secret step, and see the dragon soar.
舉同光帝謂興化云。寡人收得中原一寶。只是無人酬價。化云。借陛下寶看。帝以兩手引幞頭脚。化云。君王之寶。誰敢酬價。頌曰。
Emperor Tongguang said to Xinghua, "I have obtained a treasure from the Central Plains, but there is no one to appraise its value." Xinghua replied, "May I borrow Your Majesty's treasure to see?" The emperor lifted the ends of his turban with both hands. Xinghua said, "The treasure of a sovereign—who dares to appraise its value?" A verse says:
君王底意語知音。 天下傾誠葵藿心。 掇出中原無價寶。
不同趙璧與燕金。
The ruler's words are known by those who understand, Throughout the land, all hearts turn to him in sincerity. He brings forth the priceless treasure of the Central Plains— Unlike the jade of Zhao or the gold of Yan.
中原之寶呈興化。 一段光明難定價。 帝業堪為萬世師。
金輪景燿四天下。
The treasure of the Central Plains shines in flourishing virtue, A radiance so bright, its worth cannot be measured. The emperor's work stands as a guide for all ages, The golden wheel illuminates the four directions of the world.
舉僧問洞山。三身中那身不墮諸數。山云。吾常於此切。頌曰。
A monk asked Master Dongshan, "Among the three bodies, which one does not fall into the realm of numbers?" Dongshan replied, "I am always concerned about this."
不入世未循緣。 劫壺空處有家傳。 白蘋風細秋江暮。
古岸舡歸一帶煙。
Not entering the world, yet not following causes. In the empty space of the kalpa-pot, the family tradition remains. White duckweed, gentle breeze, autumn river at dusk. An ancient shore, a boat returns, a stretch of mist.
舉僧問雲門。如何是塵塵三昧。門云。盋裡飯桶裡水。頌曰。
A monk asked Yunmen, "What is the dust-dust samadhi?"
Yunmen said, "Rice in the bowl, water in the bucket."
The verse says:
盋裡飯桶裡水。 開口見膽求知己。 擬思便落二三機。
對面忽成千萬里。 韶陽師較些子。
斷金之義兮誰與相同。 匪石之心兮獨能如此。
The rice in the bowl, the water in the bucket— Open your mouth and see the truth, seeking a true friend. If you start to think, you’ve already fallen into second and third thoughts.
Face to face, suddenly separated by thousands of miles. Master Shaoyang has a bit of this.
The bond of cutting metal—who shares it? The heart that is not stone—who alone can be like this?
舉僧問瑯琊覺和尚。清淨本然。云何忽生山河大地。覺云。清淨本然云何忽生山河大地。頌曰。
A monk asked Master Langya Jue, "If the nature is originally pure and tranquil, how do mountains, rivers, and the great earth suddenly arise?"
Jue replied, "If the nature is originally pure and tranquil, how do mountains, rivers, and the great earth suddenly arise?"
A verse says:
見有不有。 翻手覆手。 瑯琊山裡人。 不落瞿曇後。
Seeing what is, as if it is not— A flip of the hand, a turn of the palm. The one from Mount Langya Does not fall behind the Buddha.
泗州普照覺和尚頌古一百則竟。
The one hundred ancient verses by Master Puzhao of Sizhou are now complete.
宏智禪師廣錄卷第二
Extensive Record of Chan Master Hongzhi, Volume 2