Records of the Transmission of the Lamp, Volume Ten

僧問。如何是祖師西來意。師曰。桃源水遶白雲亭。上堂。一塵才起。大地全收。一毛頭上。師子全身。且道一塵才起。大地全收。須彌山重多少。一毛頭上。師子全身。大海水有幾滴。有人道得。與汝拄杖子。天下橫行。若道不得。須彌山葢卻汝頭。大海水溺卻汝身。

A monk asked, 'What is the meaning of the Patriarch's coming from the West?' The Master said, 'The Peach Spring's water winds around the White Cloud Pavilion.' Ascending the hall: 'One speck of dust has just arisen and the whole great earth is gathered up; on the tip of one hair, the lion's whole body. Tell me: if one speck of dust has just arisen and the whole great earth is gathered up, how much does Mount Sumeru weigh? If on the tip of one hair there is the lion's whole body, how many drops are there in the great ocean?' If someone can speak it, I give you my staff, and you may run rampant through the world. If you cannot speak it, Mount Sumeru will cover your head, and the great ocean will drown your body.

潭州鹿苑文襲禪師

Chan Master Wenxi of Luyuan, Tanzhou

僧問。遠遠投師。請師一接。師曰。五門巷裡無消息。僧良久。師曰。會麼。曰。不會。師曰。長樂坡頭信不通。

A monk asked, 'From far away I throw myself on the Master; I beg the Master to receive me once.' The Master said, 'In the Five Gates Lane there is no news.' The monk was silent a long while. The Master said, 'Do you understand?' He said, 'I do not.' The Master said, 'At the head of Changle Slope no letter gets through.'

澧州藥山可瓊禪師

Chan Master Keqiong of Mount Yao, Lishou

上堂。僧出曰。請師答話。師曰。好。曰。還當得也無。師曰。更問。問。巨嶽不曾乏寸土。師今苦口為何人。師曰。延壽也要道過。曰。不伸此問。焉辯我師。師便喝。僧禮拜。師便打。

Ascending the hall. A monk came forward and said, 'Please, Master, answer a question.' The Master said, 'Good.' He said, 'Can you match it or not?' The Master said, 'Ask again.' A monk asked, 'The great mountain has never lacked an inch of soil—for whom does the Master today speak so earnestly?' The Master said, 'Yanshou too must be spoken of as having passed.' He said, 'If I did not put this question, how would I know my Master?' The Master shouted. The monk bowed. The Master struck him.

巴陵乾明院普禪師

Chan Master Pu of Qianming Monastery, Baling

僧問。萬行齊修。古人不許。不落功勳。還許也無。師曰。一曰。學人未曉。乞師再指。師曰。二十年後。

A monk asked, 'The ten thousand practices cultivated together—the ancients did not permit it. Not falling into merit and function—is that permitted?' The Master said, 'One saying.' He said, 'This student does not yet understand; I beg the Master to point again.' The Master said, 'Twenty years from now.'

興元府中梁山崇禪師

Chan Master Chong of Mount Zhongliang, Xingyuanfu

僧問。垂絲千尺。意在深潭時如何。師曰。紅鱗掌上躍。

A monk asked, 'Letting down a line a thousand feet long, with the mind set on the deep pool—what then?' The Master said, 'A red-scaled fish leaps in the palm.'

鄂州黃龍志願禪師

Chan Master Zhiyuan of Huanglong, Ezhou

僧問。迦葉上行衣。何人合得披。師曰。一片燒痕地。春入又逢青。

A monk asked, 'Mahakasyapa's robe of ascent—who is fit to wear it?' The Master said, 'A patch of burned ground, when spring enters it turns green again.'

益州東禪秀禪師

Chan Master Xiu of Dongchan, Yizhou

僧問。既是善神。為甚麼卻被雷打。師曰。世亂奴欺主。年衰鬼弄人。問。如何是一代時教。師曰。多年故紙。

A monk asked, 'Since he is a good spirit, why was he struck by lightning?' The Master said, 'When the world is in disorder, servants bully their masters; when the year declines, ghosts toy with people.' A monk asked, 'What is the teaching of one age?' The Master said, 'Old paper of many years.'

鼎州普安道禪師

Chan Master Dao of Pu'an, Dingzhou

三句頌。函葢乾坤曰。乾坤並萬象。地獄及天堂。物物皆真見。頭頭用不傷。截斷眾流曰。堆山積嶽來。一一盡塵埃。更擬論玄妙。冰消瓦解摧。隨波逐浪曰。辯口利舌問。高低總不虧。還如應病藥。診候在臨時。三句外曰。當人如舉唱。三句豈能該。有問如何事。南嶽與天台。擡薦商量曰。相見不揚眉。君東我亦西。紅霞穿碧落。白日繞須彌。

Verses on the three phrases. On encompassing heaven and earth: 'Heaven and earth and the ten thousand forms, hell and also heaven—every thing is truly seen, and everywhere the function does no harm.' On cutting off the massed streams: 'Piling up mountains and heaping peaks, every one of them is dust; to want to discuss the mysterious and wondrous is to be crushed as ice melts and tiles break.' On following the waves and chasing the currents: 'Eloquent mouth, sharp tongue asking—high and low are never slighted. It is like medicine matched to the illness; the diagnosis waits on the moment.' Beyond the three phrases: 'If the person himself raises and sings it, how could three phrases cover it? If one asks what matter it is: South Mountain and Mount Tiantai.' Raising and presenting for deliberation: 'You go east, I too go west; red clouds pierce the blue void, the white sun circles Sumeru.'

巴陵鑒禪師法嗣

Dharma heirs of Chan Master Jian of Baling

泐潭靈澄散聖

The Free Saint Lingcheng of Letan

因智門寬禪師問曰。甚處來。師曰。水清月現。門曰。好好借問。師曰。褊衫不染皂。門曰。吃茶去。師有西來意頌曰。因僧問我西來意。我話居山七八年。草履祇栽三箇耳。麻衣曾補兩番肩。東菴每見西菴雪。下㵎長流上㵎泉。半夜白雲消散後。一輪明月到床前。

Because Chan Master Kuan of Zhimen asked him, 'Where have you come from?' the Master said, 'The water is clear and the moon appears.' Men said, 'Good, good—may I ask?' The Master said, 'A narrow shirt is not dyed black.' Men said, 'Go drink tea.' The Master had a verse on the meaning of the coming from the West: 'Because a monk asked me the meaning of the coming from the West, I said: I have lived in the mountains seven or eight years. My straw sandals have only three ears; my hemp robe once patched two shoulders. From the eastern hermitage I always see the snow of the western hermitage; in the lower ravine forever flows the spring of the upper ravine. After the white clouds of midnight scatter and disperse, a single wheel of bright moon comes before my bed.'

襄州興化院興順禪師

Chan Master Xingshun of Xinghua Monastery, Xiangzhou

僧問。如何是和尚深深處。師曰。舉即易。答即難。曰。為甚麼如此。師曰。過去。問。如何是百千妙門。同歸方寸。師曰。水底看夜市。問。如何是向上事。師曰。楚山頭指天。

A monk asked, 'What is the Reverend's deepest place?' The Master said, 'To bring it up is easy; to answer it is hard.' He said, 'Why is it so?' The Master said, 'It has passed.' A monk asked, 'What is it that a hundred thousand wondrous gates all return to the square inch?' The Master said, 'Watching the night market from under the water.' A monk asked, 'What is the matter above?' The Master said, 'The head of Mount Chu points at the sky.'

雙泉寬禪師法嗣

Dharma heirs of Chan Master Kuan of Shuangquan

蘄州五祖師戒禪師

Chan Master Jie of the Fifth Patriarch, Qizhou

僧問。如何是佛。師曰。鼻孔長三尺。曰。學人不會。師曰。真不掩偽。曲不藏直。問。如何是道。師曰。點。曰。點後如何。師曰。荊三汴四。問。寶劒未出匣時如何。師曰。看。曰。出匣後如何。師曰。收。問。如何是隨色摩尼珠。師曰。隨。曰。隨後如何。師曰。一箇婆婆兩箇癭。問。得船便渡時如何。師曰。棹在誰人手。僧擬議。師曰。雲有出山勢。水無投㵎聲。上堂。佛病祖病。一時與諸禪德拈向三門外。諸禪德還拈得山僧病也無。若拈得山僧病。不妨見得佛病祖病。珍重。問。如何是祖師西來意。師曰。擔不起。曰。為甚麼擔不起。師曰。祖師西來意。問。牛頭未見四祖時如何。師曰。高問低對。曰。見後如何。師曰。風蕭蕭。雨颯颯。上堂。僧問。名喧宇宙知師久。雪嶺家風略借看。師曰。未在更道。僧展兩手。師便打。僧禮拜。師竪起拄杖曰。大眾會麼。言不再舉。令不重行。便下座。問僧。近離甚處。曰。東京。師曰。還見天子也無。曰。常年一度出金明池。師曰。有禮可恕。無禮難容。出去。智門問曰。暑往寒來即不問。林下相逢事若何。師曰。五鳳樓前聽玉漏。門曰。爭奈主山高。案山低。師曰。須彌頂上擊金鐘。

A monk asked, 'What is the Buddha?' The Master said, 'A nostril three feet long.' He said, 'This student does not understand.' The Master said, 'The true does not cover the false; the crooked does not hide the straight.' A monk asked, 'What is the Way?' The Master said, 'A dot.' He said, 'And after the dot?' The Master said, 'Three for Jing, four for Bian.' A monk asked, 'What of when the precious sword has not yet left its sheath?' The Master said, 'Look.' He said, 'And after it leaves the sheath?' The Master said, 'Put it away.' A monk asked, 'What is the mani jewel that follows color?' The Master said, 'Follow.' He said, 'And after following?' The Master said, 'One old woman with two goiters.' A monk asked, 'What of when one gets a boat and crosses at once?' The Master said, 'In whose hand is the oar?' The monk started to deliberate. The Master said, 'Clouds have the manner of leaving the mountain; water has no sound of falling into the ravine.' Ascending the hall: 'The Buddha's illness and the Patriarch's illness—at once I pick them up and set them outside the three gates for all you Chan worthies. Can you Chan worthies pick up this mountain monk's illness? If you can pick up this mountain monk's illness, then you may indeed see the Buddha's illness and the Patriarch's illness. Take care.' A monk asked, 'What is the meaning of the Patriarch's coming from the West?' The Master said, 'It cannot be shouldered.' He said, 'Why can it not be shouldered?' The Master said, 'The meaning of the Patriarch's coming from the West.' A monk asked, 'What of Ox-head before he saw the Fourth Patriarch?' The Master said, 'A high question, a low answer.' He said, 'And after he saw him?' The Master said, 'The wind whistles, the rain soughs.' Ascending the hall. A monk asked, 'Your fame resounds through the universe—we have long known the Master; let us glimpse the family style of the Snowy Ridge.' The Master said, 'Not yet—speak further.' The monk spread both hands. The Master struck him. The monk bowed. The Master held up his staff and said, 'Assembly, do you understand? The word is not raised twice; the command is not carried out twice.' And he left the seat. He asked a monk, 'Where have you recently come from?' He said, 'The Eastern Capital.' The Master said, 'Did you see the Son of Heaven?' He said, 'Once a year he comes out at the Jinming Pool.' The Master said, 'With propriety one may be forgiven; without propriety one cannot be tolerated. Get out.' Zhimen asked him, 'I do not ask about summer going and winter coming—what of meeting beneath the trees?' The Master said, 'Listening to the jade water-clock before the Five Phoenix Tower.' Men said, 'But the host mountain is high and the desk mountain is low.' The Master said, 'Striking the golden bell on the summit of Sumeru.'

江陵府福昌院重善禪師

Chan Master Chongshan of Fuchang Monastery, Jianglingfu

僧問。如何是正法眼。師曰。夜觀乾象。曰。學人不會。意旨如何。師曰。日裡看山。問。如何是佛法的的大意。師曰。東方甲乙木。曰。恁麼則粉骨碎身也。師曰。易開終始口。難保歲寒心。問。浩浩塵中。如何辯主。師曰。長安天子。塞外將軍。曰。恁麼則權握在手。師曰。不斬無罪人。問。如何是不遷底法。師曰。死人不坐禪。曰。學人不會。意旨如何。師曰。那伽常在定。問。離卻咽喉唇吻。請師速道。師曰。福昌口門窄。曰。和尚為甚麼口門窄。師曰。還我話來。問。如何是離筌蹄底句。師曰。頭大帽子小。曰。意旨如何。師曰。側腳反穿靴。問。金烏東湧。玉兔西沉時如何。師曰。措大不騎驢。曰。恁麼則謝師指南。師曰。更須子細。問。牛頭未見四祖時如何。師曰。槵子數珠。曰。見後如何。師曰。鐵磬行者。問。未施武藝。便入戰場時如何。師曰。老僧打退鼓。曰。恁麼則展陣開旗去也。師曰。伏惟尚饗。上堂。盡乾坤大地。微塵諸佛。總在福昌這裡。拈拄杖畫一畫。曰。說佛說法。諸禪德若也會得。出來與汝證據。若也不會。花須連夜發。莫待曉風吹。便下座。

A monk asked, 'What is the eye of the true dharma?' The Master said, 'Watching the constellations at night.' He said, 'This student does not understand; what is the purport?' The Master said, 'Looking at the mountains in broad daylight.' A monk asked, 'What is the very great meaning of the Buddha dharma?' The Master said, 'In the east, the first heavenly stem and the first earthly branch, and the wood.' He said, 'Then I will powder my bones and crush my body.' The Master said, 'Easy to open the mouth of beginning and end; hard to preserve the heart through the cold of the year.' A monk asked, 'In the vast dust, how does one distinguish the host?' The Master said, 'The Son of Heaven in Chang'an, the general beyond the frontier.' He said, 'Then the authority is held in hand.' The Master said, 'I do not behead the guiltless.' A monk asked, 'What is the unchanging dharma?' The Master said, 'A dead man does not sit in meditation.' He said, 'This student does not understand; what is the purport?' The Master said, 'The naga is always in samadhi.' A monk asked, 'Detached from throat and lips, please, Master, speak quickly.' The Master said, 'Fuchang's mouth-gate is narrow.' He said, 'Why is the Reverend's mouth-gate narrow?' The Master said, 'Give me back my words.' A monk asked, 'What is the phrase apart from the snare and the trap?' The Master said, 'A big head and a small hat.' He said, 'What is the purport?' The Master said, 'A crooked foot putting on a boot backward.' A monk asked, 'What of when the golden crow surges up in the east and the jade hare sinks in the west?' The Master said, 'The poor scholar does not ride a donkey.' He said, 'Then I thank the Master for pointing the way.' The Master said, 'You must look more carefully.' A monk asked, 'What of Ox-head before he saw the Fourth Patriarch?' The Master said, 'A string of wooden prayer beads.' He said, 'And after he saw him?' The Master said, 'A postulant with an iron gong.' A monk asked, 'What of one who enters the battlefield before displaying his martial skill?' The Master said, 'This old monk beats the retreat drum.' He said, 'Then I will spread the battle lines and unfurl the banners.' The Master said, 'I respectfully offer the sacrifice.' Ascending the hall: 'The whole universe and great earth, the Buddhas of the motes of dust, are all here at Fuchang.' He picked up his staff and drew a line, saying, 'Preaching Buddha, preaching dharma. Chan worthies, if you can understand it, come forward and I will certify you. If you cannot, the flowers must open overnight; do not wait for the wind of dawn.' And he left the seat.

蘄州四祖志諲禪師

Chan Master Zhiyin of the Fourth Patriarch, Qizhou

僧問。如何是透法身句。師曰。多年松樹老𥻘皴。問。葉落歸根時如何。師曰。一歲一枯榮。

A monk asked, 'What is the phrase that penetrates the dharma-body?' The Master said, 'An old pine of many years, wrinkled and chapped.' A monk asked, 'What of when the leaves fall and return to the root?' The Master said, 'Once a year it withers, once a year it flourishes.'

襄州興化奉能禪師

Chan Master Fengneng of Xinghua, Xiangzhou

僧問。如何是佛。師曰。髮長僧貌醜。

A monk asked, 'What is the Buddha?' The Master said, 'Long hair, an ugly monk's look.'

唐州天睦山慧滿禪師

Chan Master Huiman of Mount Tianmu, Tangzhou

僧問。如何是佛。師曰。多年桃核。曰。意旨如何。師曰。打破裡頭人。問。如何是祖師西來意。師曰。三年逢一閏。曰。合談何事。師曰。九日是重陽。

A monk asked, 'What is the Buddha?' The Master said, 'A peach pit of many years.' He said, 'What is the purport?' The Master said, 'Break it open—the person inside.' A monk asked, 'What is the meaning of the Patriarch's coming from the West?' The Master said, 'Once in three years there is a leap month.' He said, 'What matter should be discussed?' The Master said, 'The ninth day is the Double Ninth.'

鄂州建福智同禪師

Chan Master Zhitong of Jianfu, Ezhou

僧問。如何是透法身句。師曰。鸚鵡慕西秦。僧禮拜。師曰。聽取一頌。雲門透法身。法身何許人。鴈回沙塞北。鸚鵡慕西秦。

A monk asked, 'What is the phrase that penetrates the dharma-body?' The Master said, 'The parrot longs for western Qin.' The monk bowed. The Master said, 'Listen to one verse.' 'Yunmen penetrates the dharma-body. Whose dharma-body is it? The wild goose returns north of the sandy frontier; the parrot longs for western Qin.'

襄州延慶宗本禪師

Chan Master Zongben of Yanqing, Xiangzhou

僧問。魚未跳龍門時如何。師曰。擺手入長安。曰。跳過後如何。師曰。長安雖樂。

A monk asked, 'What of when the fish has not yet leapt the Dragon Gate?' The Master said, 'Waving its fins into Chang'an.' He said, 'And after leaping through?' The Master said, 'Though Chang'an is pleasant.'

鼎州大龍山炳賢禪師

Chan Master Bingxian of Mount Dalong, Dingzhou