The Five Lamps Meeting at the Source, Scroll Seven

杭州天竺子儀心印水月禪師

Chan Master Xinyin Shuiyue of Ziyi at Tianzhu in Hangzhou

溫州樂清陳氏子。初遊方謁鼓山。問曰。子儀三千里外遠投法席。今日非時上來。乞師非時答話。山曰。不可鈍置仁者。師曰。省力處如何。山曰。汝何費力。師於此有省。後回浙中。錢忠懿王命開法於羅漢光福二道場。上堂。久立大眾更待甚麼。不辭展拓。卻恐悞於禪德。轉迷歸路。時寒。珍重。僧問。如何是從上來事。師曰。住。曰。如何薦。師曰。可惜龍頭。翻成蛇尾。有僧禮拜起。將問話。師曰。如何且置。僧乃問。祇如興聖之子。還有相親分也無。師曰。祇待局終。不知柯爛。問。如何是維摩默。師曰。謗。曰。文殊因何讚。師曰。同案領過。曰。維摩又如何。師曰。頭上三尺巾。手裡一枝拂。問。如何是諸佛出身處。師曰。大洋海裡一星火。曰。學人不會。師曰。燒盡魚龍。問。丹霞燒木佛。意旨如何。師曰。寒即圍爐向猛火。曰。還有過也無。師曰。熱即竹林溪畔坐。問。如何是法界義宗。師曰。九月九日浙江潮。問。諸餘即不問。如何是光福門下超毗盧越釋迦底人。師曰。諸餘奉納。曰。恁麼則平生慶幸去也。師曰。慶幸事作麼生。僧罔措。師便喝。將下堂。僧問。下堂一句。乞師分付。師曰。擕履已歸西國去。此山空有老猿啼。問。皷山有掣皷奪旗之說。師且如何。師曰。敗將不忍誅。曰。或遇良將又如何。師曰。念子孤魂。賜汝三奠。問。世尊入滅。當歸何所。師曰。鶴林空變色。真歸無所歸。曰。未審必定何之。師曰。朱實殞勁風。繁英落素秋。曰。我師將來復歸何所。師曰。子今欲識吾歸處。東西南北柳成絲。問。如何修行。即得與道相應。師曰。高卷吟中箔。濃煎睡後茶。

He was a son of the Chen family of Yueqing in Wenzhou. When he first wandered in search of the Way he paid homage at Gushan and said, 'Ziyi has come three thousand li to cast himself upon the Dharma seat. Today he has come up at an untimely hour, and begs the Master to answer at an untimely hour.' Gushan said, 'I must not blunt the worthy one.' The Master said, 'What of the place where effort is saved?' Gushan said, 'Where do you exert effort?' At these words the Master had an awakening. Later he returned to Zhezhong, and King Qian Zhongyi commanded him to open the teaching at the two monasteries of Luohan and Guangfu. Ascending the hall: 'Standing so long, what are you worthies waiting for? I do not shrink from spreading it out, but I fear that I may mislead the Chan worthies and turn them back from the road of confusion. The season is cold. Take care.' A monk asked, 'What is the matter from above?' The Master said, 'Stop.' He said, 'How does one awaken to it?' The Master said, 'A pity that the dragon's head has turned into a snake's tail.' A monk bowed and rose and was about to ask a question. The Master said, 'Set aside the how for now.' The monk then asked, 'What of the son of Xingsheng — has he still a share in intimacy?' The Master said, 'I only wait for the game to end; I do not know that the axe handle has rotted.' He asked, 'What is Vimalakirti's silence?' The Master said, 'Slander.' He said, 'Why did Manjushri praise it?' The Master said, 'He took the blame along with him on the same bench.' He said, 'And Vimalakirti?' The Master said, 'Three feet of cloth on his head and a whisk in his hand.' He asked, 'What is the place the Buddhas come forth from?' The Master said, 'A single spark in the great ocean.' He said, 'The student does not understand.' The Master said, 'It burns up all the fish and dragons.' He asked, 'What is the meaning of Danxia's burning of the wooden Buddha?' The Master said, 'When cold, sit around the stove facing a fierce fire.' He said, 'Was there any fault in it?' The Master said, 'When hot, sit by the brook in the bamboo grove.' He asked, 'What is the cardinal meaning of the dharma realm?' The Master said, 'The ninth day of the ninth month, the tide of the Zhe River.' He asked, 'I do not ask about the rest — who is the man of the Guangfu gate who surpasses Vairocana and goes beyond Sakyamuni?' The Master said, 'The rest I hand over to you.' He said, 'If so, then I have been fortunate all my life.' The Master said, 'What will you do with this fortune?' The monk was at a loss. The Master then shouted. As he was about to leave the hall, a monk asked, 'The one phrase for leaving the hall — I beg the Master to hand it over.' The Master said, 'He has taken his shoes and gone back to the Western Land; on this mountain only the old gibbon cries in vain.' He asked, 'Gushan had the saying of striking the drum and seizing the flag — what of the Master?' The Master said, 'A defeated general is not worth executing.' He said, 'And if one meets a good general?' The Master said, 'Pitying your lone ghost, I grant you three libations.' He asked, 'When the World-Honored One entered extinction, where did he go?' The Master said, 'The crane grove changed color in vain; his true return is no return.' He said, 'I wonder where he surely went?' The Master said, 'Red fruit falls in the strong wind; profuse blossoms drop in the white autumn.' He said, 'Where will our Master return hereafter?' The Master said, 'If you would know the place I return to — east, west, south, north, the willows have become silk threads.' He asked, 'How should one cultivate so as to accord with the Way?' The Master said, 'Roll the blind high in the wind for chanting; brew thick the tea after sleep.'

建州白雲智作真寂禪師

Chan Master Zhizuo Zhenji of Baiyun in Jianzhou

永真朱氏子。容若梵僧。禮皷山披剃。一日。皷山上堂。召大眾。眾皆回眸。山披襟示之。眾罔措。唯師朗悟厥旨。入室印證。又參次。山召曰。近前來。師近前。山曰。南泉喚院主意作麼生。師斂手端容。退身而立。山莞然奇之。住後。上堂。還有人向宗乘中致得一問來麼。待山僧向宗乘中答。時有僧出禮拜。師便歸方丈。問。如何是枯木裡龍吟。師曰。火裡蓮生。曰。如何是髑髏裡眼睛。師曰。泥牛入海。問。如何是主中主。師曰。汝還具眼麼。曰。恁麼則學人歸堂去也。師曰。猢猻入布袋。問。如何是延平津。師曰。萬古水溶溶。曰。如何是延平劒。師曰。速須退步。曰。未審津與劒是同是異。師曰。可惜許。次遷奉先。僧問。如何是奉先境。師曰。一任觀看。曰。如何是境中人。師曰。莫無禮。問。如何是奉先家風。師曰。即今在甚麼處。曰。恁麼則大眾有賴也。師曰。幹汝甚麼事。問。如何是為人一句。師曰。不是奉先道不得。

He was a son of the Zhu family of Yongzhen, and his countenance was like that of an Indian monk. He bowed at Gushan and was shaved there. One day Gushan ascended the hall and called to the assembly. All the monks turned their eyes. Gushan opened his robe and showed it to them. The assembly was at a loss. Only the Master clearly awakened to the purport and entered the room to have it sealed. On another occasion, as he was attending, Gushan called, 'Come closer.' The Master came closer. Gushan said, 'When Nanquan called the prior, what was the meaning?' The Master drew in his hands, composed his face, and stepped back and stood. Gushan smiled and found him remarkable. After he had taken up residence, he ascended the hall: 'Is there anyone who can bring up one question within the ancestral vehicle? Wait until this mountain monk answers within the ancestral vehicle.' Then a monk came forward and bowed. The Master went straight back to his quarters. Someone asked, 'What is the dragon's song within the withered tree?' The Master said, 'A lotus grows in fire.' He said, 'What is the eye within the skull?' The Master said, 'A clay ox enters the sea.' Someone asked, 'What is the host within the host?' The Master said, 'Do you have the eye?' He said, 'If so, then the student goes back to the hall.' The Master said, 'A monkey into a cloth bag.' Someone asked, 'What is Yanping Ford?' The Master said, 'Ten thousand ages, the water brims.' He said, 'What is the Yanping sword?' The Master said, 'You must hurry to step back.' He said, 'I wonder whether the ford and the sword are the same or different?' The Master said, 'What a pity.' Later he moved to Fengxian. A monk asked, 'What is the realm of Fengxian?' The Master said, 'You are free to look.' He said, 'What is the man within the realm?' The Master said, 'Do not be rude.' He asked, 'What is the family style of Fengxian?' The Master said, 'Where is it right now?' He said, 'If so, then the assembly has something to rely on.' The Master said, 'What business is it of yours?' He asked, 'What is the one phrase for the sake of others?' The Master said, 'If it were not Fengxian, I could not say it.'

皷山智嚴了覺禪師

Chan Master Zhiyan Liaojue of Gushan

上堂。多言復多語。由來反相悞。珍重。僧問。石門之句即不問。請師方便示來機。師曰。問取露柱。問。國王出世三邊靜。法王出世有何恩。師曰。還會麼。曰。幸遇明朝輒伸呈獻。師曰。吐卻著。曰。若不禮拜。幾成無孔鐵鎚。師曰。何異無孔鐵鎚。

Ascending the hall: 'Much talk and many words have always turned against one another. Take care.' A monk asked, 'I do not ask about Shimen's phrase; I beg the Master to show me the mechanism that comes by expedient means.' The Master said, 'Go ask the exposed pillar.' Someone asked, 'When a king comes into the world, the three borders are at peace; when a Dharma king comes into the world, what grace is there?' The Master said, 'Do you understand?' He said, 'Fortunate to meet a bright court, I venture to present it.' The Master said, 'Spit it out.' He said, 'Had I not bowed, I would almost have been a hammer without a hole.' The Master said, 'How is that different from a hammer without a hole?'

福州龍山智嵩妙虗禪師

Chan Master Zhisong Miaoxu of Longshan in Fuzhou

上堂。幸自分明。須作這箇節目。作麼到這裡便成節目。便成增語。便成塵玷。未有如許多事時作麼生。僧問。古佛化導。今祖重興。人天輻輳於禪庭。至理若為於開示。師曰。亦不敢孤負大眾。曰。恁麼則人天不謬殷勤請。頓使凡心作佛心。師曰。仁者作麼生。曰。退身禮拜。隨眾上下。師曰。我識得汝也。

Ascending the hall: 'Fortunately it is clear of itself, and yet one must make this a topic. But how is it that when you arrive here it becomes a topic, becomes added words, becomes a defilement of dust? What was it like when there were not yet all these things?' A monk asked, 'The ancient Buddha taught by transformation, and the present Ancestor revives it. Men and gods throng to the Chan court — how is the ultimate principle to be revealed?' The Master said, 'I too would not dare to betray the assembly.' He said, 'If so, then men and gods do not err in their earnest request, and at once the ordinary mind becomes the Buddha mind.' The Master said, 'What will you do, worthy one?' He said, 'I step back and bow, and follow the assembly up and down.' The Master said, 'I know you.'

泉州鳳凰山彊禪師

Chan Master Qiang of Fenghuang Mountain in Quanzhou

僧問。燈傳皷嶠。道化溫陵。不跨石門。請師通信。師曰。若不是今日。攔胸撞出。曰。恁麼則今日親聞師子吼。他時終作鳳凰兒。師曰。又向這裡塗汙人。問。白浪滔天境。何人住太虗。師曰。靜夜思堯皷。回頭聞舜琴。

A monk asked, 'The lamp is transmitted at Guqiao and the Way transforms Wenling; without crossing Shimen, I beg the Master to send word.' The Master said, 'Were it not for today, I would have struck you full in the chest and knocked you out.' He said, 'If so, then today I have heard the lion's roar with my own ears, and in time I shall surely be a phoenix chick.' The Master said, 'You are again smearing people here.' Someone asked, 'In a realm where white waves flood the sky, who dwells in the great void?' The Master said, 'In the still night I think of Yao's drum; turning my head I hear Shun's zither.'

福州龍山文義禪師

Chan Master Wenyi of Longshan in Fuzhou

上堂。若舉宗乘。即院寂徑荒。若留委問。更待箇甚麼。還有人委悉麼。出來驗看。若無人委悉。且莫掠虗好。便下座。問。如何是人王。師曰。威風人盡懼。曰。如何是法王。師曰。一句令當行。曰。二王還分不分。師曰。適來道甚麼。

Ascending the hall: 'If one raises the ancestral vehicle, then the cloister is still and the path is overgrown. If one keeps back and waits for questions, what is there to wait for? Is there anyone who understands? Come forward and let me examine you. If no one understands, then at least do not plunder emptiness.' Then he descended from the seat. Someone asked, 'What is the king of men?' The Master said, 'His awe-inspiring manner makes all afraid.' He said, 'What is the Dharma king?' The Master said, 'One phrase and the command is carried out.' He said, 'Do the two kings still divide or not?' The Master said, 'What did you say just now?'

福州皷山智嶽了宗禪師

Chan Master Zhiyue Liaozong of Gushan in Fuzhou

本郡人也。初遊方至鄂州黃龍。問。久嚮黃龍。及乎到來。祇見赤斑蛇。龍曰。汝祇見赤斑蛇。且不識黃龍。師曰。如何是黃龍。龍曰。滔滔地。師曰。忽遇金翅鳥來又作麼生。龍曰。性命難存。師曰。恁麼則被他吞卻去也。龍曰。謝闍黎供養。師便禮拜。住後。上堂。我若全舉宗乘。汝向甚麼處領會。所以道古今常露。體用無妨。不勞久立。珍重。問。虗空還解作用也無。師拈起拄杖曰。這箇師僧好打。僧無語。

He was a man of that prefecture. When he first wandered in search of the Way he reached Huanglong in Ezhou and asked, 'I have long heard of Huanglong, but now that I have come I see only a red-spotted snake.' Huanglong said, 'You see only a red-spotted snake, and you do not know Huanglong.' The Master said, 'What is Huanglong?' Huanglong said, 'Surging on and on.' The Master said, 'And if a golden-winged bird suddenly comes, what then?' Huanglong said, 'Its life will be hard to keep.' The Master said, 'If so, then it has been swallowed up.' Huanglong said, 'Thank you, acharya, for the offering.' The Master then bowed. After he had taken up residence, he ascended the hall: 'If I raise the ancestral vehicle in full, where will you understand it? Therefore it is said that ancient and present are always exposed, and essence and function do not hinder each other. You need not stand long. Take care.' Someone asked, 'Does empty space also understand function?' The Master picked up his staff and said, 'This monk deserves a beating.' The monk was silent.

襄州定慧禪師

Chan Master Dinghui of Xiangzhou

僧問。如何是佛向上事。師曰。無人不驚。曰。學人未委在。師曰。不妨難向。問。不借時機用。如何話祖宗。師曰。闍黎還具慙愧麼。僧便喝。師休去。

A monk asked, 'What is the matter above the Buddha?' The Master said, 'No one is unstartled.' He said, 'The student has not yet understood.' The Master said, 'It is no wonder it is hard to turn toward.' Someone asked, 'Without borrowing the working of time and opportunity, how does one speak of the Ancestors?' The Master said, 'Acharya, do you still have a sense of shame?' The monk shouted. The Master gave up and left.

福州皷山清諤宗曉禪師

Chan Master Qing'e Zongxiao of Gushan in Fuzhou

僧問。亡僧遷化向甚麼處去也。師曰。時寒不出手。

A monk asked, 'Where has the deceased monk gone after his passing?' The Master said, 'The season is cold; I do not put out my hands.'

金陵淨德院沖煦慧悟禪師

Chan Master Chongxu Huiwu of Jingde Monastery in Jinling

福州和氏子。僧問。如何是大道。師曰。我無小徑。曰。如何是小徑。師曰。我不知大道。

He was a son of the He family of Fuzhou. A monk asked, 'What is the great Way?' The Master said, 'I have no small path.' He said, 'What is the small path?' The Master said, 'I do not know the great Way.'

金陵報恩院清護崇因妙行禪師

Chan Master Qinghu Chongyin Miaoxing of Baoen Monastery in Jinling

福州長樂陳氏子。六歲禮皷山。披削於國師。言下發明。開堂日。僧問。諸佛出世。天花亂墜。和尚出世。有何祥瑞。師曰。昨日新雷發。今朝細雨飛。問。如何是諸佛玄旨。師曰。草鞵木履。開寶三年示寂。茶毗收舍利三百餘粒。並靈骨歸於建州鷄足山臥雲院建塔。

He was a son of the Chen family of Changle in Fuzhou. At the age of six he paid homage at Gushan and was shaved under the National Teacher, and was enlightened at his words. On the day he opened the hall, a monk asked, 'When the Buddhas come into the world, heavenly flowers fall in profusion. Now that the Master has come into the world, what auspicious sign is there?' The Master said, 'Yesterday the new thunder rolled; this morning fine rain flies.' Someone asked, 'What is the profound purport of the Buddhas?' The Master said, 'Straw sandals and wooden clogs.' In the third year of Kaibao he showed his quiescence. After cremation more than three hundred relics were collected, and together with his sacred bones they were taken back to Woyun Monastery on Mount Jizu in Jianzhou and a stupa was built.

龍華照禪師法嗣

Dharma Heirs of Chan Master Zhao of Longhua

台州瑞巖師進禪師

Chan Master Shijin of Ruiyan in Taizhou

僧問。如何是瑞巖境。師曰。重重疊嶂南來遠。北向皇都咫尺間。曰。如何是境中人。師曰。萬裡白雲朝瑞嶽。微微細雨灑簾前。曰。未審如何親近此人。師曰。將謂闍黎親入室。元來猶隔萬重關。

A monk asked, 'What is the realm of Ruiyan?' The Master said, 'Ridge upon ridge of peaks come from the far south; facing north, the imperial capital is a foot away.' He said, 'What is the man within the realm?' The Master said, 'Ten thousand li of white clouds pay court to Rui Peak; a faint fine rain sprinkles before the blind.' He said, 'I wonder how one may draw near to this man?' The Master said, 'I thought the acharya had entered the room in person; it turns out you are still separated by ten thousand barriers.'

台州六通院志球禪師

Chan Master Zhiqiu of Liutong Monastery in Taizhou

僧問。全身佩劒時如何。師曰。落。曰。當者如何。師曰。熏天炙地。問。如何是六通境。師曰。滿目江山一任看。曰。如何是境中人。師曰。古今自去來。曰。離此二途。還有向上事也無。師曰。有。曰。如何是向上事。師曰。雲水千徒與萬徒。問。擁毳玄徒。請師指示。師曰。紅爐不墜鴈門關。曰。如何是紅爐不墜鴈門關。師曰。青霄豈恡眾人攀。曰。還有不知者也無。師曰。有。曰。如何是不知者。師曰。金牓上無名。問。如何是和尚家風。師曰。萬家明月朗。問。如何是第二月。師曰。山河大地。

A monk asked, 'What is it like when one wears a sword over one's whole body?' The Master said, 'It falls.' He said, 'What of the one who faces it?' The Master said, 'It scorches the sky and roasts the earth.' Someone asked, 'What is the realm of Liutong?' The Master said, 'Rivers and mountains fill the eye, free for you to look.' He said, 'What is the man within the realm?' The Master said, 'Ancient and present come and go of themselves.' He said, 'Apart from these two roads, is there still a matter above?' The Master said, 'There is.' He said, 'What is the matter above?' The Master said, 'A thousand disciples and ten thousand disciples of cloud and water.' Someone asked, 'The mysterious followers wear their hair garments — I beg the Master to point them out.' The Master said, 'The red stove does not fall at Wild Goose Gate.' He said, 'What is the red stove not falling at Wild Goose Gate?' The Master said, 'Why should the blue sky begrudge the crowd their climb?' He said, 'Are there still those who do not know?' The Master said, 'There are.' He said, 'What are those who do not know?' The Master said, 'Their names are not on the golden roll.' Someone asked, 'What is the Reverend's family style?' The Master said, 'Ten thousand houses in the bright moon.' Someone asked, 'What is the second moon?' The Master said, 'Mountains, rivers and the great earth.'

杭州雲龍院歸禪師

Chan Master Gui of Yunlong Monastery in Hangzhou

僧問。久戰沙場。為甚麼功名不就。師曰。過在這邊。曰。還有昇進處也無。師曰。冰消瓦解。

A monk asked, 'Having long fought on the battlefield, why is the merit and fame not achieved?' The Master said, 'The fault lies on this side.' He said, 'Is there still a place to advance?' The Master said, 'The ice melts and the tiles crumble.'

杭州功臣院道閑禪師

Chan Master Daoxian of Gongchen Monastery in Hangzhou

僧問。如何是功臣家風。師曰。俗人東畔立。僧眾在西邊。問。如何是學人自己。師曰。如汝與我。曰。恁麼則無二去也。師曰。十萬八千。

A monk asked, 'What is the family style of Gongchen?' The Master said, 'Laymen stand on the east side, monks on the west.' Someone asked, 'What is the student's own self?' The Master said, 'Just like you and me.' He said, 'If so, then there are not two.' The Master said, 'One hundred and eight thousand.'

福州報國院照禪師

Chan Master Zhao of Baoguo Monastery in Fuzhou

上堂。我若全機。汝向甚麼處摸索。葢為根器不等。便成不具慚愧。還委得麼。如今與諸仁者作箇入底門路。乃敲繩床兩下曰。還見麼。還聞麼。若見便見。若聞便聞。莫向意識裡卜度。卻成妄想顛倒。無有出期。珍重。佛塔被雷霹。有問。祖佛塔廟為甚麼卻被雷霹。師曰。通天作用。曰。既是通天作用。為甚麼卻霹佛。師曰。作用何處見有佛。曰。爭奈狼藉何。師曰。見甚麼。

Ascending the hall: 'If I gave the whole mechanism, where would you grope for it? It is because your capacities are not equal that you turn into men without a sense of shame. Do you understand? Now I will make a gate of entry for you worthies.' Then he rapped twice on the corded chair and said, 'Do you see? Do you hear? If you see, then see; if you hear, then hear. Do not calculate within consciousness, or you will turn into deluded inverted thinking and have no time of escape. Take care.' A Buddha stupa was struck by lightning. Someone asked, 'The stupa and shrine of the Ancestor and the Buddhas — why was it struck by lightning?' The Master said, 'A work that penetrates heaven.' He said, 'Since it is a work that penetrates heaven, why did it strike the Buddha?' The Master said, 'Where in that work do you see a Buddha?' He said, 'What is to be done about the mess?' The Master said, 'What do you see?'

台州白雲廼禪師

Chan Master Nai of Baiyun in Taizhou

僧問。荊山有玉非為寶。囊裡真金賜一言。師曰。我家本貧。曰。慈悲何在。師曰。空慙道者名。

A monk asked, 'Jade on Jing Mountain is not reckoned a treasure; grant me one word of the true gold in your bag.' The Master said, 'My house is poor to begin with.' He said, 'Where is your compassion then?' The Master said, 'I am ashamed in vain of the name of a man of the Way.'

翠巖參禪師法嗣

Dharma Heirs of Chan Master Can of Cuiyan