明州天童景德禪寺宏智覺禪師語錄卷四
Volume 4 of the Recorded Sayings of Chan Master Hongzhi Jue from Jingde Monastery, Tiantong Mountain, Mingzhou
武林苕溪鳳山後學淨啟重編
Chongbian by Jingqi, Later Disciple of Fengshan, Tiaoxi, Wulin
機緣
Opportunities and Conditions
僧問：「一絲不著時如何？」師曰：「合同船子並頭行。」曰：「其中事作麼生？」師曰：「快刀快斧斫不入。」問：「布袋頭開時如何？」師曰：「一任填溝塞壑。」問：「清虛之理，畢竟無身時如何？」師曰：「文彩未痕初，消息難傳際。」曰：「一步密移玄路轉，通身放下劫壺空？」師曰：「誕生就父時，合體無遺照。」曰：「理既如是，事作麼生？」師曰：「歷歷纔回分化事，十方機應又何妨？」曰：「恁麼則塵塵皆現本來身去也！」師曰：「透一切色，超一切心。」曰：「如理如事又作麼生？」師曰：「路逢死蛇莫打殺，無底籃子盛將歸。」曰：「入市能長嘯，歸家著短衫。」師曰：「木人嶺上歌，石女溪邊舞。」
A monk asked, "What about when not a single thing clings?"
The master said, "It is like two boatmen crossing the river in one boat."
The monk asked, "Then what about the inner meaning?"
The master said, "A sharp knife or a keen axe cannot cut into it."
The monk asked, "When the cloth bag's tie is loosened, what then?"
The master said, "Let it fill up ditches and block ravines."
The monk asked, "When the principle of pure emptiness arrives at the state of having no body, what then?"
The master said, "Before any pattern has shown its trace, in a time when the message is difficult to pass on."
The monk said, "When the secret step shifts the mysterious path itself, and in letting go completely the kalpa pitcher becomes empty?"
The master said, "Just as a newborn returns to its father—the whole body merges without any remaining shadow."
The monk asked, "If the principle is like this, what about the actual matter?"
The master said, "One returns clearly to respond to the transformation of beings—why should meeting the potential of the ten directions be an obstacle?"
The monk said, "Then every particle reveals the original body!"
The master said, "Penetrate all forms; transcend all mind."
The monk asked, "What about being one with principle and one with phenomena?"
The master said, "If you meet a dead snake on the road, do not kill it. Carry it home in a bottomless basket."
The monk said, "One can whistle loudly in the marketplace; on returning home, one wears short clothes."
The master said, "The wooden man sings on the mountain peak; the stone woman dances by the stream."
僧問：「如何是正中偏？」師曰：「雲散長空後，虛堂夜月明。」「如何是偏中正？」師曰：「白髮老婆羞看鏡。」「如何是正中來？」師曰：「霜眉雪鬢火中出，堂堂終不落今時。」「如何是兼中至？」師曰：「大用現前，不存軌則。」「如何是兼中到？」師曰：「夜明簾外排班早，空王殿上絕知音。」
A monk asked: "What is 'the absolute within the relative'?" The master said: "After the clouds scatter across the vast sky, the moon shines brightly in the empty hall."
"What is 'the relative within the absolute'?" The master said: "An old gray-haired woman is too ashamed to look in her mirror."
"What is 'the absolute arrival'?" The master said: "Eyebrows of frost and temples of snow emerge from fire— majestic and never falling into the present."
"What is 'arriving within the relative'?" The master said: "Great function appears right now, without clinging to any rules."
"What is 'the ultimate arrival within both'?" The master said: "Presenting yourself early outside the night-bright curtain— but on the throne of the Empty King, there is no one who truly understands."
僧問：「如何是君？」師曰：「日月光天德，山河壯帝居。」「如何是臣？」師曰：「腰懸三尺劍，策佐一人安。」「如何是臣向君？」師曰：「葵藿有時終向日，江河無水不朝東。」「如何是君視臣？」師曰：「鳳輦離天闕，殷勤訪子陵。」「如何是君臣道合？」師曰：「萬民歌聖德，千載印凌煙。」
A monk asked: "What is the sovereign?"
The master said: "The sun and moon brighten the heavens' virtue, mountains and rivers glorify the emperor's palace."
The monk asked: "What is the minister?"
The master said: "A sword three feet long hangs at the waist, with plans to assist the ruler in peace."
The monk asked: "What is the minister facing the sovereign?"
The master said: "Sunflowers and plants always turn toward the sun at the right time, and great rivers never fail to flow east."
The monk asked: "How does the sovereign see the minister?"
The master said: "The phoenix carriage leaves the imperial gate, earnestly visiting Ziling."
The monk asked: "What is the harmonious union of sovereign and minister?"
The master said: "Ten thousand people sing praise for holy virtue, and for a thousand years their images are engraved in Lingyan."
問：「如何是識自宗？」師曰：「纔擬議時，萬水千山拂袖便行。」「如何是死中活？」師曰：「寒灰發燄，枯木芬芳。」「如何是活中死？」師曰：「貪尋言語路，喪卻本來人。」「如何是不落死活？」師曰：「月船不犯東西岸，須信篙人用意良。」「如何是背捨？」師曰：「掃蕩聖凡，纖塵不立。」「如何是不背捨？」師曰：「披毛戴角，拽擺拖犁。」「如何是活人劍？」師曰：「放行瓦礫生光。」「如何是殺人刀？」師曰：「把定乾坤失色。」「如何是平常？」師曰：「如常恰似秋風至，無意涼人人自涼。」「如何是利道拔生？」師曰：「剪除腳下線，指出髻中珠。」「如何是言無過失？」師曰：「是非一色出乎口，舌上何須辨阿余？」「如何是透脫？」師曰：「腳跟截斷紅絲線，天上人間自在飛。」「如何是透脫不透脫？」師曰：「雖然打破玉團子，卻撒黃金在眼中。」「如何是稱揚？」師曰：「萬籟有心聞不得，孤嵒無耳卻知音。」「如何是降句？」師曰：「閉口牢藏舌，安身第一方。」「如何是方入圓？」師曰：「縱橫得妙，左右逢源。」
Question: "What is recognizing one's own fundamental nature?" Master said: "The very moment you try to think it over, mountains and rivers unfold before you—you simply wave your sleeves and go."
"What is life within death?" Master said: "Cold ashes burst into flame, withered trees bloom with fragrance."
"What is death within life?" Master said: "Greedily chasing the paths of words, you lose the original person."
"What is neither life nor death?" Master said: "The moon-boat does not touch the eastern or western shore; truly, the boatman uses his pole with skill."
"What is turning away and abandoning?" Master said: "Sweep away the sacred and the ordinary, leaving not a single speck of dust."
"What is not turning away or abandoning?" Master said: "Wearing fur and bearing horns, pulling and hauling the plow."
"What is the sword that gives life to people?" Master said: "When released, even broken tiles and stones shine."
"What is the knife that kills people?" Master said: "When grasped, heaven and earth lose their color."
"What is the ordinary?" Master said: "It is as usual—just like the autumn wind arriving; no intention to cool, yet people cool themselves."
"What is benefiting the path and saving beings?" Master said: "Cut away the thread beneath your feet, and point out the jewel in your topknot."
"What is speaking without error?" Master said: "Right and wrong are the same color as they leave the mouth; why need you distinguish 'A' from 'Yu' on your tongue?"
"What is liberation?" Master said: "Cut off the red thread at your heel, and fly freely between heaven and earth."
"What is liberation and non-liberation?" Master said: "Although you smash the jade ball, you scatter gold dust right into your eyes."
"What is praise?" Master said: "Myriad sounds, yet no ear can hear them; a lonely cliff, though earless, knows the sound."
"What is subduing words?" Master said: "Close your mouth and hide your tongue—this is the foremost method for settling down."
"What is entering the circle from the square?" Master said: "Move freely in all directions, and find the source wherever you turn."