上堂。問：「適間未出方丈，已打葛藤；今登曲彔木床，漏逗不少。須是法爾如然，未免一場扯淡。二途不立，如何垂示？」師云：「丁一卓二。」進云：「四海浪平龍睡穩，九天雲凈鶴飛高。」師云：「高有餘，低不足。」進云：「堂前生瑞草，好事不如無。」師云：「帶累闍黎。」進云：「恁麼則五臺山上雲蒸飯，佛殿階前狗尿天。」師云：「直須截斷。」乃舉：「死心和尚云：『一人所在也須到，半人所在也須到，無人所在也須到。』看這老漢出言吐氣，有定衲子之權衡，分龍蛇之變化。若向此三語下明徹得、透脫得，可以攪長河為酥酪，變大地作黃金；其或未然，不免遍界坑坎堆阜，荊棘阻途。且道就中還有能向此處明得、透得者麼？金鏃慣調曾百戰，鐵鞭多力恨無讎。」

The master ascended the hall. A monk asked, "Before you left the abbot's quarters, you had already tangled with the vines. Now that you've climbed the high seat, there's been quite a show. It must be the natural way of things, yet it's all just idle talk. Without standing on either path, how do you offer guidance?" The master said, "One stands firm, two are distinguished."

The monk continued, "When the four seas are calm, dragons sleep soundly; when the nine heavens are clear, cranes soar high." The master said, "High is excessive, low is insufficient."

The monk said, "Even if auspicious grass grows before the hall, it's better to have no such happenings." The master said, "You've implicated yourself."

The monk said, "If so, then on Mount Wutai, clouds steam rice, and before the Buddha hall, dogs piss at the sky." The master said, "You must cut it off directly."

Then he cited: "Master Sixin said, 'Where there is one person, you must go; where there is half a person, you must go; where there is no one, you must go.' Look at this old man's words and breath—they hold the measure to settle monks and distinguish dragons from snakes. If you can understand and penetrate these three phrases, you can stir the long river into ghee and transform the great earth into gold. If not, you'll inevitably face pitfalls and mounds everywhere, thorns blocking the path. Tell me, is there anyone here who can understand and penetrate this place? A seasoned archer who has fought a hundred battles, a strong iron whip with no enemy to strike."

上堂。「道無二路，義絕淆訛，事具千差，理歸一致。雖則鼓唇搖舌，要知格外提持。今朝幸遇二維摩來山飯眾，只得舉則古人機宜以為話柄。昔有個王常侍訪臨濟，侍曰：『這一堂僧眾還看經麼？』濟曰：『不看經。』侍曰：『還參禪麼？』濟曰：『不參禪。』侍曰：『經又不看，禪又不參，畢竟作甚麼？』濟曰：『總教伊成佛作祖去。』侍曰：『金屑雖貴，落眼成翳。』濟曰：『我將謂你是個俗漢。』」師云：「臨濟若無後語，卻被常侍看破。忽有人問山僧：『這一堂僧眾還看經麼？』云：『看經。』『還參禪麼？』云：『參禪。』或云：『又看經，又參禪，畢竟作麼生？』云：『只教無佛可成，無道可得去。』或云：『郎當不少。』云：『我將謂你是個大人。』山僧若無後語，卻被維摩看破。大眾！且道與古人是同是別？填溝塞壑無人會，雨過夜塘秋水深。」下座。

The Master ascended the hall and said:

"The Way is not two—its meaning leaves no room for confusion. Phenomena are a thousandfold, yet principle returns to oneness. Though words are spoken and lips move, one must understand what lies beyond conventional expressions. Today, by chance, two noble lay patrons have come to offer a meal to the community, so I will relate an ancient story as a topic for discussion.

Once, a high official named Wang visited the Chan Master Linji. The official asked, 'These monks in this hall—do they still study sutras?' Linji said, 'They do not study sutras.' The official asked, 'Do they still practice meditation?' Linji said, 'They do not practice meditation.' The official said, 'If they neither study sutras nor practice meditation, what on earth are they doing?' Linji said, 'I am simply teaching them to become Buddhas and Ancestors.' The official said, 'Though gold dust is precious, if it falls in your eye, it becomes a obstruction.' Linji said, 'I thought you were an ordinary fellow.'"

The Master commented: "If Linji hadn't added that last remark, he would have been seen through by the official. Now if someone asks me: 'These monastics in this hall—do they still study sutras?' I would say: 'They study sutras.' 'Do they still practice meditation?' I would say: 'They practice meditation.' If they say: 'Studying sutras and practicing meditation—so what are they doing in the end?' I would say: 'They are simply taught that no Buddha is to be attained, and no Way is to be realized.' If they say: 'That's just loose talk,' I would say: 'I thought you were a person of substance.' If I didn't add that last remark, I would be seen through by these noble patrons.

Assembly! Tell me: is this the same as the ancient case or different? Filling valleys and blocking ditches—no one understands. After rain, a night pond's autumn water runs deep."

He then descended from the seat.

元旦，上堂。問：「如何是賓？」師云：「將軍令。」進云：「如何是主？」師云：「天子敕。」進云：「賓主不立時如何？」師云：「截斷前後句，料掉沒交涉。」乃云：「山僧自住果城，偶遇本府眾居士，共相扶助道脈，整頓徽猷，同聲相應，同氣相求。猶記得昔龐公訪藥山，辭次，藥山令十禪客相送至門首，時值下雪，龐公指雪云：『好雪片片，不落別處。』全禪客云：『且道落在甚麼處？』公便掌，全云：『且莫草草。』公云：『恁麼稱禪客，閻老子未放你在。』全云：『居士作麼生？』公又掌云：『耳聽如聾，口說如啞。』」師云：「看這龐公見境生情，有個下落。全禪客買鐵得金，一場好彩即不無，今我眾居士第未知有龐公見處否？昔日龐老，今朝居士，如是不隔一絲毫，只恐同途不同轍。」拍几云：「也畢竟不落別處。」

New Year's Day, the master ascended the hall.

A monk asked, "What is the guest?" The master replied, "The general's command." The monk asked, "What is the host?" The master replied, "The emperor's decree." The monk asked, "What about when host and guest are both set aside?" The master replied, "Cut off what comes before and after; it has nothing to do with anything."

Then the master said, "Since I, this mountain monk, have been residing at North Gate Temple, I've encountered all of you lay practitioners from this prefecture, mutually supporting the way and organizing its excellent teachings—like calls responding to one another, like spirits seeking each other out.

I recall how in the past, Pang the Layman visited Master Yaoshan. When taking leave, Yaoshan had ten Chan practitioners see him to the gate. It happened to be snowing. Pang pointed to the snow and said, 'Fine snowflakes—they don't fall anywhere else.' The Chan practitioner named Quan said, 'Tell me, where do they fall?' Pang immediately slapped him. Quan said, 'Don't be so rude.' Pang said, 'Calling yourself a Chan practitioner—Old Man Yama won't let you off yet.' Quan said, 'And what would you say, layman?' Pang slapped him again and said, 'Ears that hear as if deaf, a mouth that speaks as if mute.'"

The master said, "See how the Layman Pang, upon encountering a situation, gave rise to understanding—there's something to grasp here. As for Chan practitioner Quan, he bought iron but got gold—quite a lucky strike, that was. But now I wonder, do all of you lay practitioners here share Pang's insight? Back then, Layman Pang; today, lay practitioners—there's not a hair's breadth between you. I'm only afraid that though you walk the same road, you might not follow the same path."

The master struck the table and said, "Ultimately, it doesn't fall anywhere else."

解制，上堂。「大道坦平，無起無倒；真機演唱，何解何結？若然，覿體渾融，處處總為華藏界，頭頭盡是釋迦文，結制之梯航何安？聖賢之階級孰立？且道就中還有向此處嶷然具眼者麼？不妨出來，大家定當。」僧問：「寒盡春風花滿地，當軒布鼓震龍門，未審如何得相應去？」師云：「霹靂一聲轟宇宙，撩天落魄甚驚群。」進云：「倒嶽傾湫無回互，吐霧吞煙占五湖。」師云：「沒交涉。」進云：「長天日月輝今古，觸處笙歌萬象新。」師云：「隔嶺望煙知是火，策藜惟見白雲堆。」舉：「翠嵒示眾云：『一夏已來為眾兄弟東說西說，看翠巖眉毛還在麼？』長慶云：『生也。』保福云：『作賊人心虛。』雲門云：『關。』看這翠巖眉毛墮落處自救不了，復有三元龍象互相蹴踏，仔細檢點將來，個個膽小。今日山僧則不然，一冬已來為眾兄弟東說西說，看山僧眉毛長麼？」復云：「出門泥水無回互，瞬目青山千萬重。」

Lifting the Restriction, Ascending the Hall. "The Great Path is level and broad, without rising or falling; the true principle is proclaimed, what is there to restrict or release? If it is so, the essence merges completely, every place is the realm of Avatamsaka, every point is Shakyamuni. Where, then, does the raft of restriction and release reside? Who establishes the ladder of sages and saints? Tell me, is there anyone here with clear eyes who can illuminate this? Come forward and let us all settle it together."

A monk asked: "When winter ends and spring winds blow, flowers cover the ground, and the drum of the cloth banner shakes the Dragon Gate—how can one be in accord?" The Master said: "A thunderbolt explodes, shaking the universe; soaring into the sky, lost and fallen, astonishing the crowd." The monk continued: "Toppling mountains and overturning rivers without hesitation, spitting mist and swallowing clouds, dominating the Five Lakes." The Master said: "No connection." The monk pressed: "The sun and moon in the vast sky shine through past and present; everywhere, music and song make all things new." The Master said: "Seeing smoke from afar, you know it's fire; leaning on a staff, you only see piles of white clouds."

He then raised a case: "Cuiyan addressed the assembly: 'All summer I’ve been talking east and west for you brothers. See if Cuiyan’s eyebrows are still there?' Changqing said: 'They’ve grown back.' Baofu said: 'A thief has a guilty conscience.' Yunmen said: 'Guan.' Look at this—Cuiyan’s fallen eyebrows, unable to save themselves. Then there were three old masters, dragons and elephants, kicking each other around. Examining it closely, each one was timid. Today, I’m different: all winter I’ve been talking east and west for you brothers. See if my eyebrows have grown long?"

He then added: "Entering the muddy waters without hesitation, in the blink of an eye, blue mountains stretch thousand-fold."