44. The East Privy Faces West 四十四、东司向西
Teacher Qi Zhijun | 2018-06-23 | Download | AI assisted translation
| 〖公案原文〗 |
〖Original Koan Text〗 |
| 钱弋郎中，访真净，说话久，欲登溷。净令行者引从西边去，钱遽云：“既是东司，为什么却向西去？”净云：“多少人向东边讨。” |
Director Qian Yi visited Chan Master Zhenjing. After they had talked for some time, Qian wished to use the latrine. Zhenjing told an attendant to lead him to the one on the west side. Qian abruptly said, “If it is called the East Office, why are we going west?” Zhenjing said, “How many people seek it to the east!” |
| 师云：“恶！便是赵州问投子‘不许夜行，投明须到’，亦不如此语好。” |
The Master said, “Excellent! Even Zhaozhou’s question to Touzi—‘Traveling at night is not permitted; you must arrive in daylight’—is not as good as this saying.” |
| 〖老人眉批〗 |
〖The Elder’s Marginal Note〗 |
| 妙哉！所谓世人者，皆随语生解著相汉也。若从这里悟去，宁不庆快！ |
“Wonderful! Those called worldly people are all men who generate interpretations from words and cling to appearances. If one awakens from here, would that not be most joyful and exhilarating?” |
| 〖锯解秤砣〗 |
〖Sawing Open the Scale Weight〗 |
| 钱弋郎中是个医生，却也喜欢参禅。有一次，他去参访真净禅师，说话的时间长了，他要去厕所（东司），却不知道厕所在哪里。 |
Director Qian Yi was a physician, but he also enjoyed investigating Chan. Once, he went to visit Chan Master Zhenjing. After they had talked for a long time, he wanted to use the toilet (the East Office), but did not know where it was. |
| 真净叫行者领他到西边的厕所去，钱弋郎中突然说：“既是东司，为什么却向西去？”嗬！颇有“大死的人却活”之意蕴。真净禅师应声答道：“多少人向东边讨。”禅本在平实处，多少人却向神奇玄妙处求取。就象这个庙里的“东司”本在西边，多少人却粘着“东司”二字，而向东边去找。 |
Zhenjing told an attendant to lead him to the toilet on the west side. Director Qian Yi suddenly said, “If it is called the East Office, why are we going west?” Ah! This carries something of the meaning that one who has undergone the great death comes alive. Chan Master Zhenjing immediately replied, “How many people seek it to the east!” Chan lies originally in what is plain and ordinary, yet so many people seek it in the marvelous and mysterious. It is like the “East Office” in this temple: it is actually on the west side, yet so many people cling to the two words “East Office” and look for it to the east. |
| 大慧禅师赞叹“多少人向东边讨”这句答语：“真净禅师果是厉害呀！即使投子的那句‘不许夜行，投明须到’，也没有这一句好。” |
Chan Master Dahui praised the reply, “How many people seek it to the east!”: “Chan Master Zhenjing truly was formidable! Even Touzi’s saying, ‘Traveling at night is not permitted; you must arrive in daylight,’ is not as good as this one.” |
| 老人也赞叹这句“多少人向东边讨”：“妙哉！所谓世人者，皆随语生解著相汉也。若从这里悟去，宁不庆快！”为什么向东边讨呢？因为世人随着“东司”之语而妄生理解，著了东司的“东”字之相。现在既蒙真净禅师点破，立即破掉妄执，就从这里悟去，岂不是很庆幸、很痛快么！ |
The Elder likewise praised the saying, “How many people seek it to the east!”: “Wonderful! Those called worldly people are all men who generate interpretations from words and cling to appearances. If one awakens from here, would that not be most joyful and exhilarating?” Why do they seek it to the east? Because worldly people falsely generate interpretations on the basis of the words “East Office” and cling to the appearance of the character east in “East Office.” Now that Chan Master Zhenjing has exposed this, their deluded attachment is immediately shattered. If they awaken from here, would they not be most fortunate and delighted? |
| 〖以下内容来自论坛〗 |
〖The Following Content Is from a Forum〗 |
| 老师用心良苦，学生钦佩！钦佩！！ gszy 20:45:47 6/26/02(无内容) |
The teacher has taken such great pains; the student admires you deeply! Deeply admires you!! gszy 20:45:47 6/26/02 (no content) |
| 胡乱说说，请您提出批评意见。 lvm 21:20:04 6/26/02(无内容) |
I have spoken carelessly; please offer your criticisms and suggestions. lvm 21:20:04 6/26/02 (no content) |
| 批评不敢，胡说一句…… gszy 22:09:08 6/26/02(45) |
I would not dare offer criticism; let me speak nonsense for a moment... gszy 22:09:08 6/26/02 (45) |
