The Record of Linji

Discourses

3 117 119 120 The Recorded Sayings of Chan Master Linji Huizhao of Zhenzhou Compiled by his humble heir Huiran of Sansheng discourses i The Prefectural Governor,Councilor Wang,along with the other officials, requested the master to address them. The master took the high seat in the Dharma Hall and said: “Today, I, this mountain monk, having no choice in the matter, have perforce yielded to customary etiquette and taken this seat. If I were to demonstrate the Great Matter in strict keeping with the teaching of the ancestral school, I simply couldn’t open my mouth and there wouldn’t be any place for you to find footing. But since I’ve been so earnestly entreated today by the councilor, why should I conceal the essential doctrine of our school? Now, is there any adept warrior who forthwith can array his battle line and unfurl his banners here before me? Let him try proving himself before the assembly!” A monk asked, “What about the cardinal principle of the buddhadharma ?” The master gave a shout. The monk bowed low. “As an opponent in argument this young reverend is rather good,” said the master. A monk asked, “Master, of what house is the tune you sing? To whose style of Chan do you succeed?” The master said, “When I was staying with Huangbo I questioned him three times and was hit three times.” 4 | t h e r e c o r d o f l i n j i The monk hesitated.The master gave a shout and then struck him,saying, “You can’t drive a stake into the empty sky.” A lecture master asked,“The Three Vehicles’twelve divisions of teachings make the buddha-nature quite clear, do they not?” “This weed patch has never been spaded,” said Linji. “Surely the Buddha would not have deceived people!” said the lecture master. “Where is the Buddha?” asked Linji. The lecture master had no reply. “You thought you’d make a fool of me in front of the councilor,” said the master.“Get out, get out! You’re keeping the others from asking questions.” The master continued,“Today’s dharma assembly is concerned with the Great Matter. Does anyone else have a question? If so, let him ask now! But the instant you open your mouth you’re already way off. Why is this? Don’t you know that Venerable Śākyamuni said,‘Dharma is separate from words, because it is neither subject to causation nor dependent upon conditions’? Your faith is insufficient, therefore we have bandied words today. I fear I am obstructing the councilor and his staff, thereby obscuring the buddhanature . I had better withdraw.” The master shouted and then said,“For those whose root of faith is weak the final day will never come.You have been standing a long time. Take care of yourselves.” ii One day Linji went to He Prefecture. The governor, Councilor Wang, requested the master to take the high seat. At that time Mayu came forward and asked,“The Great Compassionate One has a thousand hands and a thousand eyes.Which is the true eye?” The master said, “The Great Compassionate One has a thousand hands and a thousand eyes.Which is the true eye? Speak, speak!” Mayu pulled the master down off the high seat and sat on it himself. Coming up to him, the master said,“How do you do?” Mayu hesitated. The master, in his turn, pulled Mayu down off the high seat and sat upon it himself . Mayu went out. The master stepped down. iii The master, taking the high seat in the hall, said, “On your lump of red flesh is a true man without rank who is always going in and out of the face of every one of you. Those who have not yet confirmed this, look, look!” 129 122 125 126 128 d i s c o u r s e s | 5 131 132 Then a monk came forward and asked,“What about the true man without rank?” The master got down from his seat, seized the monk, and cried,“Speak, speak!” The monk faltered. Shoving him away, the master said, “The true man without rank—what kind of dried piece of shit is he!” Then he returned to his quarters. iv The master took the high seat in the hall. A monk came forward and bowed. The...