Records of the Transmission of the Lamp, Volume Fifteen
廣德軍光孝果慜禪師
Chan Master Guomin of Guangxiao, Guangde Jun
常德桃源人也。上堂。舉南泉斬貓兒話。乃曰。南泉提起下刀誅。六臂脩羅救得無。設使兩堂俱道得。也應流血滿街衢。
He was a man of Taoyuan in Changde. He mounted the hall and brought up the story of Nanquan beheading the cat. Then he said: 'Nanquan lifted it up and brought the knife down; could the six-armed asura have saved it? Even if both halls could have spoken, there would still be blood flowing through the streets.'
雪峰需禪師法嗣
Dharma heirs of Chan Master Xuefeng Xu
福州雪峰毬堂慧忠禪師
Chan Master Huizhong of Qiutang, Xuefeng, Fuzhou
上堂。終日忙忙。那事無妨。作麼生是那事。良久曰。心不負人。面無慚色。
He mounted the hall: 'Busy all day long — that matter is no obstacle. What is that matter?' After a long while he said: 'When the mind does not fail others, the face has no shame.'
天童交禪師法嗣
Dharma heirs of Chan Master Tiantong Jiao
慶元府蓬萊圓禪師
Chan Master Yuan of Penglai, Qingyuan Prefecture
住山三十年。足不越閫。道俗尊仰之。師有偈曰。新縫紙被烘來煖。一覺安眠到五更。聞得上方鐘皷動。又添一日在浮生。
He lived on the mountain for thirty years and his feet never crossed the threshold. Monks and laymen revered him. The Master had a verse: 'A newly sewn paper quilt, warmed at the fire, and one sleeps peacefully till the fifth watch. Hearing the bell and drum move in the upper quarter, one adds another day to this floating life.'
圓通旻禪師法嗣
Dharma heirs of Chan Master Yuantong Min
江州廬山圓通守慧沖真密印通慧禪師
Chan Master Chongzhen Miyin Tonghui Shouhui of Yuantong, Mount Lu, Jiangzhou
上堂。但知今日復明日。不覺前秋與後秋。平步坦然歸故里。卻乘好月過滄洲。咦。不是苦心人不知。
He mounted the hall: 'One only knows today and then tomorrow, and does not notice the autumn before and the autumn after. Walking calmly on level ground one returns to the native village, and rides the good moon past the misty isle. Hm! Only a man of bitter heart knows.'
隆興府黃龍道觀禪師
Chan Master Daoguan of Huanglong, Longxing Prefecture
上堂曰。古人道。眼色耳聲。萬法成辦。你諸人為甚麼從朝至暮。諸法不相到。遂喝一喝。曰。牽牛入你鼻孔。禍不入慎家之門。
He mounted the hall and said: 'The ancients said: the eye for form, the ear for sound — the ten thousand dharmas are accomplished. Why is it that you people, from morning to dusk, do not arrive at any dharma?' Then he shouted once and said: 'Lead the ox into your nostrils; calamity does not enter the gate of the careful house.'
左丞範沖居士
The Layman Fan Chong, Vice Director of the Left
字致虗。由翰苑守豫章。過圓通謁旻禪師。茶罷曰。某行將老矣。墮在金紫行中。去此事稍遠。通呼內翰。公應喏。通曰。何遠之有。公躍然曰。乞師再垂指誨。通曰。此去洪都有四程。公佇思。通曰。見即便見。擬思即差。公乃豁然有省。
His courtesy name was Zhixu. From the Hanlin he became prefect of Yuzhang. Passing Yuantong he called on Chan Master Min. After tea he said: 'I am about to grow old, fallen among the ranks of the gold and purple, and somewhat far from this matter.' Tong called out: 'Hanlin!' and the gentleman answered. Tong said: 'How is it far?' The gentleman sprang up and said: 'I beg the Master to let down further instruction.' Tong said: 'From here to Hongdu is four stages.' The gentleman stood pondering. Tong said: 'Seeing, one sees at once; deliberating, one errs.' Thereupon the gentleman was suddenly awakened.
樞密吳居厚居士
The Layman Wu Juhou, Privy Councillor
擁節歸鍾陵。謁圓通旻禪師。曰。某頃赴省試。過此。過趙州關。因問前住訥老。透關底事如何。訥曰。且去做官。今不覺五十餘年。旻曰。曾明得透關底事麼。公曰。八次經過。常存此念。然未甚脫灑在。旻度扇與之。曰。請使扇。公即揮扇。旻曰。有甚不脫灑處。公忽有省曰。便請末後句。旻乃揮扇兩下。公曰。親切。親切。旻曰。吉獠舌頭三千里。
Bearing his credentials he returned to Zhongling and called on Chan Master Min of Yuantong. He said: 'Some time ago, when I went to the provincial examination, I passed this way and crossed the Zhaozhou Pass, and so asked old Ne, the former abbot, how the matter of passing the pass goes. Ne said: Go and be an official for now. And before I knew it, more than fifty years have passed.' Min said: 'Have you ever made clear the matter of passing the pass?' The gentleman said: 'Eight times I have passed through, and always kept this thought, yet I have never been quite free of it.' Min handed him a fan and said: 'Please use the fan.' The gentleman at once waved the fan. Min said: 'What is there that is not free of it?' The gentleman suddenly had an awakening and said: 'Then please, the last phrase.' Min then waved the fan twice. The gentleman said: 'Intimate, intimate.' Min said: 'The Ji bandit's tongue extends three thousand li.'
諫議彭汝霖居士
The Layman Peng Rulin, Remonstrance Official
手寫觀音經施圓通。通拈起曰。這箇是觀音經。那箇是諫議經。公曰。此是某親寫。通曰。寫底是字。那箇是經。公笑曰。卻了不得也。通曰。即現宰官身而為說法。公曰。人人有分。通曰。莫謗經好。公曰。如何即是。通舉經示之。公拊掌大笑曰。嗄。通曰。又道了不得。公禮拜。
He wrote out the Avalokiteshvara Sutra by hand and gave it to Yuantong. Tong picked it up and said: 'This is the Avalokiteshvara Sutra. Which is the Remonstrance Official's sutra?' The gentleman said: 'This is what I wrote with my own hand.' Tong said: 'What is written is characters. Which is the sutra?' The gentleman laughed and said: 'Then I cannot manage it.' Tong said: 'Manifesting the body of a magistrate and preaching the dharma for him.' The gentleman said: 'Everyone has a share.' Tong said: 'Do not slander the sutra.' The gentleman said: 'What then is it?' Tong held up the sutra and showed it to him. The gentleman clapped his hands and laughed loudly, saying: 'Ah!' Tong said: 'You said again that you could not manage it.' The gentleman bowed.
中丞盧航居士
The Layman Lu Hang, Censor
與圓通擁爐次。公問。諸家因緣。不勞拈出。直截一句。請師指示。通厲聲指曰。看火。公急撥衣。忽大悟。謝曰。灼然。佛法無多子。通喝曰。放下著。公應喏喏。
As he sat by the stove with Yuantong, the gentleman asked: 'The stories of the various houses need not be brought up. One direct phrase — I beg the Master to point it out.' Tong pointed sharply and said: 'Watch the fire.' The gentleman hurriedly pushed back his robe and suddenly was greatly awakened. He thanked him and said: 'Plainly the buddhadharma is no great matter.' Tong shouted: 'Put it down!' The gentleman said yes, yes.
左司都貺居士
The Layman Du Kuang, Vice Director of the Left
問圓通曰。是法非思量分別之所能解。當如何湊泊。通曰。全身入火聚。公曰。畢竟如何曉會。通曰。驀直去。公沈吟。通曰。可更吃茶麼。公曰。不必。通曰。何不恁麼會。公契旨。曰。元來太近。通曰。十萬八千。公占偈曰。不可思議。是大火聚。便恁麼去。不離當處。通曰。咦。猶有這箇在。公曰。乞師再垂指示。通曰。便恁麼去。鐺是鐵鑄。公頓首謝之。
He asked Yuantong: 'This dharma cannot be understood by thought and discrimination. How should one approach it?' Tong said: 'Enter the fire mass with your whole body.' The gentleman said: 'After all, how does one understand it?' Tong said: 'Go straight on.' The gentleman was silent and pondering. Tong said: 'Will you have more tea?' The gentleman said: 'No need.' Tong said: 'Why not understand it thus?' The gentleman grasped the purport and said: 'So it was very near.' Tong said: 'Ten thousand eight hundred.' The gentleman made a verse: 'Inconceivable — it is the great fire mass. Going just thus, one does not leave where one stands.' Tong said: 'Hm! There is still this in you.' The gentleman said: 'I beg the Master to let down further instruction.' Tong said: 'Going just thus, the pan is cast of iron.' The gentleman bowed his head in thanks.
明招慧禪師法嗣
Dharma heirs of Chan Master Mingzhao Hui
楊州石塔宣秘禮禪師
Chan Master Li of Shita Xuanmi in Yangzhou
僧問。山河大地。與自己是同是別。師曰。長亭涼夜月。多為客鋪舒。曰。謝師答話。師曰。網大難為鳥。綸稠始得魚。僧作舞歸眾。師曰。長江為硯墨。頻寫斷交書。上堂。舉百丈野狐話。乃曰。不是飜濤手。徒誇跨海鯨。由基方撚鏃。枝上眾猿驚。上堂。至座前。師搊一僧上法座。僧慞惶欲走。師遂指座曰。這棚子。若牽一頭驢上去。他亦須就上屙在。汝諸人因甚麼卻不肯。以拄杖一時趕散。顧侍者曰。嶮。
A monk asked, 'The mountains, rivers and great earth — are they the same as oneself or different?' The Master said, 'In the long pavilion on a cool night, the moon mostly spreads itself out for travelers.' The monk said, 'I thank the Master for his answer.' The Master said, 'When the net is large, birds are hard to catch; when the line is thick, one gets the fish.' The monk danced and returned to the assembly. The Master said, 'The long river for ink, writing letters of broken friendship again and again.' Ascending the hall: he brought up Baizhang's wild fox story and said, 'He was no hand at riding the waves; in vain he bragged of the whale that crosses the sea. Youji had just fitted the arrow to the string, and the monkeys on the branch were startled.' Ascending the hall: when he reached the seat, the Master pulled a monk up onto the Dharma seat. The monk, terrified, wanted to run away. The Master then pointed at the seat and said, 'This platform — if you dragged a donkey up onto it, it would still have to shit on it. Why will none of you?' With his staff he drove them all away at once. Turning to the attendant he said, 'Dangerous.'
浮山真禪師法嗣
Dharma Heirs of Chan Master Zhen of Fushan
峨嵋靈巖徽禪師
Chan Master Hui of Lingyan on Mount Emei
僧問。文殊是七佛之師。未審誰是文殊之師。師曰。金沙灘頭馬郎婦。
A monk asked, 'Manjushri is the teacher of the seven Buddhas. May I ask who is Manjushri's teacher?' The Master said, 'The horse-trader's wife at the head of the golden sand bank.'
祥符立禪師法嗣
Dharma Heirs of Chan Master Li of Xiangfu
湖南報慈淳禪師
Chan Master Chun of Baoci in Hunan
上堂曰。青眸一瞬。金色知歸。授手而來。如王寶劍。而今開張門戶。各說異端。可謂古路坦而荊棘生。法眼正而還自翳。孤負先聖。埋沒己靈。且道不埋沒不孤負正法眼藏如何吐露。還有吐露得底麼。出來吐露看。如無。擔取詩書歸舊隱。野華啼鳥一般春(聯燈作烏回範語)。
Ascending the hall he said, 'At a single blink of the blue eye, the golden-hued one knew where to return. He extended his hand and came, like a king's precious sword. Yet today each opens his own gate and door and speaks his own heterodox view. You may call it an ancient road, level yet grown over with thorns; the Dharma eye correct yet clouded over by itself. You betray the former sages and bury your own spirit. But tell me, how will you bring forth the treasury of the true Dharma eye that neither buries nor betrays? Is there anyone who can bring it forth? Come out and bring it forth for me to see. If there is none, then carry your books of poetry back to your old reclusion — wild flowers and crying birds are the same spring.' (The Joint Lamp records this as the words of Wu Hui Fan.)
雲巖遊禪師法嗣
Dharma Heirs of Chan Master You of Yunyao
臨安府徑山塗毒智䇿禪師
Chan Master Dudu Zhiche of Jingshan in Lin'an Prefecture
天台陳氏子。幼依護國僧楚光落髮。十九造國清。謁寂室光。灑然有省。次謁大圓於明之萬壽。圓問曰。甚處來。師曰。天台來。曰。見智者大師麼。師曰。即今亦不少。曰。因甚在汝腳跟下。師曰。當面蹉過。圓曰。上人不耘而秀。不扶而直。一日辭去。圓送之門。拊師背曰。寶所在近。此城非實。不頷之。往豫章謁典牛。道由雲居。風雪塞路。坐閱四十二日。午初。版聲鏗然。豁爾大悟。及造門。典牛獨指師曰。甚處見神見鬼來。師曰。雲居聞版聲來。牛曰。是甚麼。師曰。打破虗空。全無柄靶。牛曰。向上事未在。師曰。東家暗坐。西家廝罵。牛曰。嶄然超出佛祖。他日起家。一麟足矣。住後。上堂。舉。教中道。若以色見我。以音聲求我。是人行邪道。不能見如來。雖然恁麼。正是捕得老鼠。打破油甕。懷禪師道。你眼在甚麼處。雖則識破釋迦老子。爭奈拈䭔䑛指。若是塗毒即不然。色見聲求也不妨。百華影裡繡鴛鴦。自從識得金針後。一任風吹滿袖香。師將示寂。陞座別眾。囑門人以文祭之。師危坐傾聽。至尚饗。為之一笑。越兩日。沐浴更衣。集眾說偈曰。四大既分飛。煙雲任意歸。秋天霜夜月。萬裡轉光輝。俄頃。泊然而逝。塔全身於東岡之麓。
He was a son of the Chen family of Tiantai. In childhood he was ordained under the monk Chuguang of Huguo. At nineteen he went to Guoqing and called on Jishi Guang, and was at once awakened. Next he called on Dayuan at Wanshou in Ming Prefecture. Yuan asked, 'Where do you come from?' The Master said, 'From Tiantai.' He said, 'Have you seen Master Zhiyi?' The Master said, 'Even now he is not lacking.' He said, 'Why then is he at your heels?' The Master said, 'I missed him face to face.' Yuan said, 'The superior man, untended, is elegant; unpropped, he is straight.' One day he took his leave. Yuan saw him to the gate, patted his back and said, 'The jewel is near at hand; this city is not real.' The Master did not nod. He went to Yuzhang to call on Dianniu. His road passed by Yunju, and snow and wind blocked the way. He sat and read for forty-two days. At the first watch of noon the sound of the board rang out, and suddenly he was greatly awakened. When he reached the gate, Dianniu alone pointed at him and said, 'Where have you been seeing spirits and ghosts?' The Master said, 'I heard the board at Yunju.' Niu said, 'What is it?' The Master said, 'Smashing open empty space, with no handle or target at all.' Niu said, 'The matter beyond is not yet there.' The Master said, 'The eastern house sits in the dark; the western house curses.' Niu said, 'Loftily you surpass the Buddhas and Ancestors. When you raise a family one day, one unicorn will be enough.' After he took up residence, he ascended the hall: 'The teaching says, "If one sees me by form, or seeks me by sound, that man walks the crooked way and cannot see the Tathagata." Even so, this is just catching the mouse and breaking the oil jar. Chan Master Huai said, "Where are your eyes?" Though he saw through old Sakyamuni, what can he do about licking the finger after holding the cake? Dudu is not like that: seeing by form and seeking by sound are no hindrance; in the shadow of a hundred flowers one embroiders mandarin ducks. Ever since I knew the golden needle, let the wind blow and fill my sleeves with fragrance.' As the Master was about to enter quiescence, he mounted the seat to take leave of the assembly and told his disciples to offer a text in sacrifice to him. The Master sat upright and listened. When it came to the words 'accept the offering,' he smiled once. Two days later he bathed and changed his clothes, gathered the assembly and spoke a verse: 'The four elements have already scattered and flown; smoke and cloud return as they please. In the autumn sky, the frosty night moon turns its radiance over ten thousand miles.' In a moment he passed away peacefully. His whole body was enshrined in a stupa at the foot of the eastern ridge.
信相顯禪師法嗣
Dharma Heirs of Chan Master Xian of Xinxiang