Jingde Record of the Transmission of the Lamp, Volume Twenty-Two

虔州天竺義澄常真禪師。初參羅山棲泊數載。後因羅山在疾。師問。百年後忽有人。問和尚以何指示。羅山乃放身便倒。師從此契悟。僧問。如何是佛法大意。師曰。寒暑相催。問聖皇請命大眾臨筵。請師舉。師曰。領領。曰恁麼即人天有賴也。師曰。汝作麼生。

Chan Master Changzhen Yicheng of Tianzhu in Qianzhou. He first studied under Luoshan and stayed there for several years. Later, when Luoshan was ill, the master asked, "A hundred years from now, if someone suddenly asks the reverend, with what will you instruct them?" Luoshan then let his body fall over. From this the master awakened. A monk asked, "What is the essential meaning of the Buddha Dharma?" The master said, "Cold and heat urge each other on." He asked, "The sage emperor has requested instructions; the great assembly is present at the feast. Please, master, raise it." The master said, "Yes, yes." He said, "If so, then gods and humans have support." The master said, "What will you do?"

吉州清平惟曠真寂禪師。師上堂雲。不動神情便有輸贏之意。還有麼出來。時有僧出禮拜。師雲。不是作家出去。僧問。如何是第一句。師曰。要頭將取去。問如何是活人劍。師曰。會麼。曰如何是殺人刀。師叱之。問如何是師子兒。師曰。毛頭排宇宙。

Chan Master Zhenji Weikuang of Qingping in Jizhou. The master ascended the hall and said, "Without moving the spirit, there is already the idea of winning and losing. Is there any who can come forward?" At that time a monk came forward and bowed. The master said, "Not a master craftsman; get out." A monk asked, "What is the first phrase?" The master said, "If you want the head, take it and go." He asked, "What is the sword that brings people to life?" The master said, "Do you understand?" He said, "What is the knife that kills people?" The master shouted at him. He asked, "What is a lion's cub?" The master said, "With a hair tip he arrays the universe."

婺州金柱義昭和尚。僧問。如何是和尚家風。師曰。開門作活。僧雲。忽遇賊來又怎麼生。師曰然。有新到僧參。師揭簾以手作除帽子勢。僧擬欲近前。師雲。賺殺人。師因事而有頌曰。

Reverend Yizhao of Jinzhu in Wuzhou. A monk asked, "What is the reverend's family style?" The master said, "Open the door and do what is alive." The monk said, "If a thief suddenly comes, then what?" The master said, "So." A newly arrived monk came to study. The master lifted the curtain and made with his hand the gesture of removing a cap. The monk was about to step forward. The master said, "You will kill people with trickery." Because of an affair, the master had a verse, saying:

虎頭生角人難措石火電光須密佈

When a tiger's head grows horns, people find it hard to deal with; the flint spark and lightning flash must be closely spread.

假饒烈士也應難懞底那能解差互

Even a brave man should find it difficult; how could the muddled one understand the discrepancy?

潭州谷山和尚。僧問。省要處乞師一言。師乃起去。問羚羊掛角時如何。師曰。爾向什麼處覓曰掛角後如何。師曰走。

Chan Master Gushan of Tanzhou. A monk asked, "I beg the Master for a word on the essential point." The Master then rose and left. He asked, "What is it like when a antelope hangs by its horns?" The Master said, "Where will you search for it?" He said, "What about after it hangs by its horns?" The Master said, "Go."

湖南瀏陽道吾山從盛禪師。師初住高安龍迴。有僧問。如何是覿面事。師曰。新羅國去也。問如何是龍迴家風。師曰。縱橫射直。問如何是靈源。師曰。嫌什麼。曰近者如何。師曰。如人飲水。問窮子投師乞師拯濟。師曰。莫是屈著汝麼。曰爭奈窮何。師曰。大有人見。

Chan Master Congsheng of Daowu Mountain in Liuyang, Hunan. The Master first resided at Longhui in Gao'an. A monk asked, "What is the matter directly before one's face?" The Master said, "It has gone to Silla." He asked, "What is the family style of Longhui?" The Master said, "Shooting straight across and lengthwise." He asked, "What is the spiritual source?" The Master said, "What are you averse to?" He said, "What about the near?" The Master said, "Like a person drinking water." He asked, "A poor son takes refuge with the Master and begs the Master to rescue him." The Master said, "Am I not wronging you?" He said, "What can the poor do about it?" The Master said, "Many people see it."

福州羅山義因禪師。師上堂示眾曰。若是宗師門下客必不怪於羅山。珍重。僧問。承古人有言。自從認得曹谿路了知生死不相關。曹谿即不問。如何是羅山路。師展兩手。僧曰。恁麼即一路得通諸路亦然。曰什麼諸路。僧近前立。師曰。靈鶴煙霄外鈍鳥不離窠。問承教中有言。須法身萬象俱寂。隨智用萬象齊生。如何是萬象俱寂。師曰。有什麼。曰如何是萬象齊生。師曰。繩床椅子。

Chan Master Yiyin of Luoshan in Fuzhou. The Master ascended the hall and addressed the assembly, saying, "If you are a guest within the gate of a Chan master, you will surely not find Luoshan strange. Take care." A monk asked, "It is said the ancients had a saying: 'Once one recognizes the road of Caoxi, one knows birth and death are unrelated.' I do not ask about Caoxi; what is the road of Luoshan?" The Master spread both hands. The monk said, "If it is thus, then one road is penetrated and all roads are likewise." He said, "What all roads?" The monk stepped forward and stood. The Master said, "A spirit crane beyond the misty clouds; a dull bird does not leave its nest." He asked, "It is said in the teachings: 'The Dharmakaya must be such that all phenomena are wholly still; following the functioning of wisdom, all phenomena arise together.' What is it when all phenomena are wholly still?" The Master said, "What is there?" He said, "What is it when all phenomena arise together?" The Master said, "A rope bed and a chair."

灌州靈巖和尚。僧問。如何是道中寶。師曰。地傾東南天高西北。曰學人不會。師曰。落照機前異。師頌石鞏接三平曰。

Chan Master Lingyan of Guanzhou. A monk asked, "What is the treasure within the Way?" The Master said, "The earth inclines to the southeast; the sky is high in the northwest." He said, "The student does not understand." The Master said, "At the point before the setting sunlight, it is different." The Master's verse on Shigong receiving Sanping says:

解擘當胸箭因何只半人

Understanding how to snap the arrow at the chest, why only half a person?

為從途路曉所以不全身

Because from the journey's road he understood, therefore he is not complete in body.

吉州匡山和尚。師有示徒頌曰。

Chan Master Kuangshan of Jizhou. The Master had a verse instructing his disciples, saying:

匡山路匡山路巖崖嶮峻人難措

Kuangshan's road, Kuangshan's road, cliffs and crags are steep and perilous, hard for people to set foot.

遊人擬議隔千山一句分明超佛祖

A traveler who deliberates is separated by a thousand mountains; one phrase clearly surpasses Buddhas and Patriarchs.

又有白牛頌曰。

He also had a verse on the white ox, saying:

我有古壇真白牛父子藏來經幾秋

I have an ancient altar and a true white ox; father and son hid it away for how many autumns.

出門直透孤峰頂迴來暫跨虎谿頭

Going out the gate, straight through to the summit of the lone peak; returning, briefly straddling the head of Tiger Stream.

福州興聖重滿禪師。上堂示眾曰。覿面分付不待文宣。對眼投機喚作參玄上士。若能如此所以宗風不墜。僧問。如何是宗風不墜底句。師曰。老僧不忍。問昔日靈山會裡。今朝興聖筵中。和尚親傳如何舉唱。師曰。欠汝一問。

Chan Master Xingsheng Chongman of Fuzhou. He ascended the hall and addressed the assembly, saying, "Face to face I entrust it; it does not await literary proclamation. To strike the mechanism eye to eye is called a superior person who investigates the profound. If one can be like this, then the ancestral style will not fall." A monk asked, "What is the phrase whereby the ancestral style does not fall?" The Master said, "The old monk cannot bear it." He asked, "Formerly in the assembly at Vulture Peak, now in the feast at Xingsheng, how does the Master personally transmit and proclaim it?" The Master said, "I owe you one question."

潭州寶應清進禪師僧問如何是實相師曰沒卻汝問至理無言如何通信師曰千差萬別曰得力處乞師指示師曰瞌睡漢。

Chan Master Baoying Qingjin of Tanzhou. A monk asked, "What is true form?" The Master said, "It has done away with you." He asked, "Ultimate principle is wordless; how is it communicated?" The Master said, "A thousand differences and ten thousand distinctions." He said, "I beg the Master to indicate the point of efficacy." The Master said, "You drowsy fellow."

前安州白兆山志圓禪師法嗣

Heir of Chan Master Zhiyuan of Baizhao Mountain in Anzhou

朗州大龍山智洪弘濟大師。僧問。如何是佛。師曰。即汝是。曰如何領會。師曰。更嫌缽盂無柄那。問如何是微妙。師曰。風送水聲來枕畔。月移山影到床邊。問如何是極則處。師曰。懊惱三春月不及九秋光。

Great Master Zhihong Hongji of Dalongshan in Langzhou. A monk asked, "What is the Buddha?" The Master said, "It is you." He said, "How should one understand it?" The Master said, "Are you further dissatisfied that the alms bowl has no handle?" He asked, "What is subtle and wondrous?" The Master said, "The wind sends the sound of water to the pillow's edge; the moon moves the mountain's shadow to the bedside." He asked, "What is the ultimate point?" The Master said, "It is vexing that the moon of the three spring months does not match the light of the ninth autumn."

襄州白馬山行靄禪師。僧問。如何是清淨法身。師曰。井底蝦蟇吞卻月。問如何是白馬正眼。師曰。向南看北斗。

Chan Master Xing'ai of Baima Mountain in Xiangzhou. A monk asked, "What is the pure dharmakaya?" The Master said, "A toad at the bottom of a well swallows the moon." He asked, "What is the true eye of Baima?" The Master said, "Look south at the Northern Dipper."

郢州大陽山行沖禪師(第一世住)僧問。如何是無盡藏。師良久。僧無語。師曰。近前來。僧才近前。師曰去。

Chan Master Xingchong of Dayang Mountain in Yingzhou (first generation abbot). A monk asked, "What is the inexhaustible treasury?" The Master was silent for a long time. The monk had nothing to say. The Master said, "Come closer." As soon as the monk came closer, the Master said, "Go."

安州白兆山竺乾院懷楚禪師(第二世住)僧問。如何是句句須行玄路。師曰。沿路直到湖南。問如何是師子兒。師曰。德山嗣龍潭。問如何是和尚為人一句。師曰。與汝素無冤讎。一句元在遮裡。曰未審在什麼方所。師曰。遮鈍漢。

Chan Master Huaichu of Zhuqian Monastery on Baizhao Mountain in Anzhou (second generation abbot). A monk asked, "What is it to have every phrase proceed along the mysterious road?" The Master said, "Follow the road straight to Hunan." He asked, "What is the lion's cub?" The Master said, "Deshan succeeded Longtan." He asked, "What is the one phrase by which the Master helps people?" The Master said, "I have never had any enmity with you. The one phrase is originally right here." He said, "I do not know where it is." The Master said, "This dull fellow."

蘄州四祖山清皎禪師福州人也。姓王氏。初住郢州大陽山為第二世。僧問。師唱誰家曲宗風嗣阿誰。師曰。楷師巖畔祥雲起。寶壽峰前震法雷。師次住安州慧日院。後遷止蘄州四祖山為第一世。年七十時遺偈雲。

Chan Master Qingjiao of the Fourth Patriarch's Mountain in Qizhou was a man of Fuzhou. His surname was Wang. He first resided at Dayang Mountain in Yingzhou as the second generation. A monk asked, "Of whose family does the Master sing the song, and to whom does the style of the school succeed?" The Master said, "Auspicious clouds rise by the cliff of Master Kai; the dharma thunder shakes before Baoshou Peak." The Master next resided at Hui Ri Cloister in Anzhou. Later he moved to stay at the Fourth Patriarch's Mountain in Qizhou as the first generation. At the age of seventy he left a verse saying:

吾年八十八滿頭垂白髮

I am eighty-eight years old, my head covered with hanging white hair.

顒顒鎮雙峰明明千江月

Solemnly I preside over the Twin Peaks, clearly the moon in a thousand rivers.

黃梅揚祖教白兆承宗訣

Huangmei spread the ancestors' teaching, Baizhao inherited the school's essential formula.

日日告兒孫勿令有斷絕

Day after day I tell my children and grandchildren: do not let it be cut off.

淳化四年癸巳八月二十三日入滅。年八十八。

On the twenty-third day of the eighth month of the fourth year of Chunhua, cyclical year guisi, he entered extinction. He was eighty-eight years old.

蘄州三角山志操禪師(第三世住)僧問。教法甚多宗歸一貫。和尚為什麼說得許多周遊者也。師曰。為爾周遊者也。曰請和尚即古即今。師以手敲繩床。

Chan Master Zhicao of Sanjiao Mountain in Qizhou (third generation abbot). A monk asked, "The teachings are many, but the school returns to one principle. Why does the Master speak of so many who wander about?" The Master said, "Because you wander about." He said, "Please, Master, be it ancient or present." The Master struck the rope chair with his hand.

晉州興教師普禪師。僧問。盈龍宮溢海藏真詮即不問。如何是教外別傳底法。師曰。眼裡耳裡鼻裡。曰只此便是否。師曰。是什麼。僧咄。師亦咄。問僧。近離什麼處。曰下寨。師曰。還逢著賊麼。曰今日捉下。師曰。放汝三十棒。

Chan Master Shupu of Xingjiao in Jinzhou. A monk asked, "I do not ask about the true exposition that fills the dragon palace and overflows the sea treasury. What is the dharma transmitted apart from the teachings?" The Master said, "In the eye, in the ear, in the nose." He said, "Is this itself it or not?" The Master said, "What is it?" The monk shouted. The Master also shouted. He asked the monk, "How far away have you come from?" He said, "Pitched camp below." The Master said, "Did you meet the bandit?" He said, "Today I have captured him." The Master said, "I spare you thirty blows."

蘄州三角山真鑒禪師(第四世住)僧問。師唱誰家曲宗風嗣阿誰。師曰。忽然行政令便見下堂階。

Chan Master Zhenjian of Sanjiao Mountain in Qizhou (fourth generation abbot). A monk asked, "Of whose family does the Master sing the song, and to whom does the style of the school succeed?" The Master said, "Suddenly executing administrative orders, one then sees him descend the hall steps."

前潭州藤霞和尚法嗣

Dharma heir of the former Venerable Tengxia of Tanzhou.

澧州藥山和尚(第七世住)師上堂謂眾曰。夫學般若菩薩不懼得失。有事近前。時有僧問。藥山祖裔請師舉唱。師曰。萬機挑不出。曰為什麼萬機挑不出。師曰。他緣岸谷。問如何是藥山家風。師曰。葉落不如初。問法雷哮吼時如何。師曰。宇宙不曾震。曰為什麼不曾震。師曰。遍地娑婆未嘗哮吼。曰不哮吼底事如何。師曰。闔國無人知。

The Venerable of Yaoshan in Lizhou (seventh generation abbot). The Master ascended the hall and said to the assembly, "Students of prajna who are bodhisattvas do not fear gain or loss. If there is a matter, come forward." At that time a monk asked, "The ancestral descendants of Yaoshan: please, Master, raise and sing it." The Master said, "Ten thousand devices cannot pick it out." He said, "Why can ten thousand devices not pick it out?" The Master said, "Because he is by the cliffs and valleys." He asked, "What is the family style of Yaoshan?" The Master said, "Leaves fall and are not as before." He asked, "What is it like when the dharma thunder roars?" The Master said, "The universe has never shaken." He said, "Why has it never shaken?" The Master said, "Throughout the whole world of saha there has never been a roar." He said, "What about the matter of not roaring?" The Master said, "No one in the whole country knows."

前潭州雲蓋山景和尚法嗣

Dharma heir of the former Venerable Jing of Yungai Mountain in Tanzhou.