第九則玄沙過患
Case 9: Xuan Sha's Mistake
舉玄沙問鏡清。(伯牙與子期。不是閒相識)古人道。不見一法。是大過患。(銷鎔頓入不思議)你且道。不見甚麼法。(學人從來不眼華)清指露柱云。莫是這箇法麼。(逢人且說三分話)沙云。浙中清水白米從你喫。佛法未夢見在。(將謂無人證明)天童拈云。鏡清當時恁麼答。玄沙末後恁麼道。還相契也無。(讚之雙美。毀之兩傷)然則鏡清。久不作佛法夢也。(空遊山水。百無所能)須是玄沙。同參始得(是精識精)。
Xuan Sha asked Jing Qing. *Bo Ya and Zhong Zioi, not just casual acquaintances.*
An ancient master said, "Not seeing even a single phenomenon is a great fault." *Melted and fused, suddenly entering the inconceivable.*
You tell me—what phenomenon is it that one does not see? *This student has never had eyes for flowers.*
Jing Qing pointed to a pillar and said, "Could it be this phenomenon?" *When meeting someone, only speak three-tenths of the truth.*
Xuan Sha said, "You have fine rice and clear water in Zhejiang to eat, but you haven't even dreamed of the Buddha's Dharma." *One might think there is no one to bear witness.*
Tian Tong remarked, "When Jing Qing answered as he did, and Xuan Sha spoke as he did at the end, were they in accord or not?" *Praise them, and both shine; criticize them, and both are hurt.*
Nevertheless, Jing Qing had long since stopped dreaming of the Buddha's Dharma. *He roamed mountains and rivers idly, with no ability at all.*
It took Xuan Sha to be his true fellow practitioner. *Only one who knows the essence recognizes the essence.*
師云。福州玄沙師備禪師。衲帔芒鞋。雪峰稱備頭陀再來人也。杭州龍冊道怤禪師。嘗住越州鏡湖三十年。故號鏡清。與玄沙同嗣雪峰。華嚴普賢菩薩云。我不見一法。為大過失。毒於瞋者。佛果道。六根本中。唯瞋最毒。玄沙錯此經問。勘辨鏡清。古人道。不見一法。為大過患。你且道。不見甚麼法。若依經旨。祗合道一念瞋心起。百萬障門開。鏡清深辨來風。撥轉機輪。却指露柱道。莫是這箇法麼。萬松道。莫道這箇。那箇也走作。天童以普賢為古人。不害大意。佛果又作涅槃經。未知何據。因辨於此。學者應知。玄沙用衲僧巴鼻道。浙中清水白米許你喫。佛法未夢見在。鏡清嘗住鏡湖。本溫州人。住龍冊寺。故指浙中清水白米。這佛法未夢見在。有褒有貶。有殺有活。惠安顗和尚勘僧曰。上座信心也不具。好言語往往錯會。佛果於不見一法為大過患著語云。和尚自屎不覺臭。一則公案。不出此句。入理深談。最為極唱。雪竇拈云。大小鏡清。被玄沙熱謾。萬松道。切忌以己方人。雪竇代云。我當時若見。但向他道。靈山授記未到如此。萬松道。便重不便輕。天童拈道。鏡清當時恁麼答。玄沙末後恁麼道。還相契也無。萬松道。會得途中受用。不會世諦流布。天童末後道。然則鏡清。久不作佛法夢也。須是玄沙同參始得。萬松道。父為子隱。直在其中。具眼底辨取。
The Master said: Chan Master Xuan Sha of Fuzhou, dressed in a patched robe and straw sandals, was called by Xue Feng the rebirth of "Bhikshu Bei." Chan Master Long Ce Dao Fu of Hangzhou once lived by Jing Lake in Yuezhou for thirty years, so he was known as "Jing Qing." He and Xuan Sha were both disciples of Xue Feng.
The Avatamsaka Sutra says: "Bodhisattva Samantabhadra said: I see no dharma that is a greater fault, or more poisonous than anger." Buddha Fruit said: "Among the six root defilements, anger is the most poisonous." Xuan Sha, using this scripture, tested and examined Jing Qing. The ancients said: "Not seeing a single dharma is the greatest fault." You tell me: what dharma is not seen? If we follow the scripture's meaning, we should simply say: "When a single thought of anger arises, a million obstacles open." Jing Qing, deeply discerning the direction of the wind, turned the wheel of the mechanism and pointed to a pillar, saying: "Could it be this dharma?"
Wan Song said: "Don't say this dharma, that dharma also escapes." Heavenly Youth referred to Samantabhadra as "the ancient one," but this does not harm the essential meaning. Buddha Fruit also treated it as the Nirvana Sutra; I don't know what his basis is. I clarify this here for scholars to understand.
Xuan Sha, using his Chan monk's method, said: "Clear water and white rice in Zhejiang are allowed for you to eat, but you haven't even dreamed of the Dharma." Jing Qing once lived by Jing Lake, originally from Wenzhou, and dwelled at Long Ce Temple. So the phrase "clear water and white rice in Zhejiang" refers to this. "You haven't even dreamed of the Dharma" contains both praise and criticism, both killing and giving life.
Monk Hui An Yi tested a student, saying: "Venerable, you lack faith." Good words are often misunderstood. Buddha Fruit commented on "Not seeing a single dharma is the greatest fault," saying: "The master doesn't smell his own shit." This single story does not go beyond this phrase; entering principle and speaking deeply is the ultimate expression.
Xue Dou remarked: "Great or small, Jing Qing was fooled by Xuan Sha." Wan Song said: "Be careful not to measure others by yourself." Xue Dou said on behalf: "If I had been there, I would have told him: 'The prophecy at Spiritual Mountain had not yet reached this point.'" Wan Song said: "Heavy burden, not light."
Heavenly Youth remarked: "At that time, Jing Qing answered like that; at the end, Xuan Sha spoke like that. Were they in accord or not?" Wan Song said: "If you understand, you get use on the path; if not, you drift with worldly views." Heavenly Youth finally said: "Nevertheless, Jing Qing had not dreamed of the Dharma for a long time. Only with Xuan Sha as a fellow practitioner could this be achieved." Wan Song said: "The father conceals for the son; truth lies within." Let those with eyes discern.