[Instruction 81] Yaoshan Watches an Arrow Shoot a Deer 【八一】药山看箭射麈
Verses on Ancient Cases by Chan Master Xuedou Chongxian, with Commentary by Chan Master Yuanwu Keqin | 2019-04-01 | Download | AI assisted translation
| 【八一】药山看箭射麈 |
[Case 81] Yaoshan Watches an Arrow Shot at a Deer |
| 佛果圆悟禅师《碧岩录》卷第九 |
Fascicle Nine of The Blue Cliff Record by Chan Master Foguo Yuanwu |
| 垂示云：搀旗夺鼓，千圣莫穷；坐断誵讹，万机不到。不是神通妙用，亦非本体如然。且道。凭个什么，得恁么奇特！ |
Pointer: Raising the banner and seizing the drum—of this, a thousand sages cannot fathom the end. Cutting off disputation and confusion—ten thousand circumstances cannot reach it. It is neither spiritual powers and wondrous functioning nor the suchness of the fundamental essence. Tell me: relying on what can one attain such marvels? |
| 【八一】举： |
[Case 81] The Case: |
| 僧问药山：平田浅草，麈鹿成群，如何射得麈中麈？【把髻投衙，擎头带角出来。脑后拔箭。】 |
A monk asked Yaoshan, “On a level plain covered with shallow grass, deer gather in herds. How does one shoot the deer among deer?” [He casts his topknot before the court and comes forth bearing his head and horns. He draws an arrow from behind his head.] |
| 山云：看箭！【就身打劫。下坡不走，快便难逢。着！】 |
Yaoshan said, “Watch the arrow!” [He robs him on the spot. Do not take the downhill path; such an opportunity is hard to meet. Hit!] |
| 僧放身便倒。【灼然不同。一死更不再活。弄精魂汉。】 |
The monk threw himself down. [Clearly, he was different. Once dead, he would not come alive again. What a fellow playing with his vital spirit!] |
| 山云：侍者，拖出这死汉。【据令而行。不劳再勘。前箭犹轻后箭深。】 |
Yaoshan said, “Attendant, drag this dead fellow out.” [He acts in accordance with the command. There is no need for further examination. The first arrow was still light; the latter arrow struck deep.] |
| 僧便走【棺木里瞠眼。死中得活。犹有气息在。】 |
The monk then ran away. [Staring wide-eyed from inside the coffin. Coming alive amid death. He still has some breath left.] |
| 山云：弄泥团汉，有什么限！【可惜许放过。据令而行。雪上加霜。】 |
Yaoshan said, “You fellow playing with a lump of mud—what limits are there to you!” [What a pity that he let him off so easily. He acts in accordance with the command. Frost added to snow.] |
| 雪窦拈云：三步虽活，五步须死。【一手抬一手搦。直饶走百步，也须丧身失命。复云：看箭！且道雪窦意落在什么处？若是同死同生，药山直得目瞪口呿。一向似无孔锤，堪作何用！】 |
Xuedou commented, “Though he lives after three steps, after five steps he must die.” [One hand raises him up; one hand presses him down. Even if he ran a hundred steps, he would still lose his life. He further said: “Watch the arrow!” Tell me, where does Xuedou’s intent lie? If they were to die together and live together, Yaoshan would be left staring open-mouthed. Such a one would be like a hammer without a hole; what use could he be?] |
| 这公案，洞下谓之借事问，亦谓之辨主问，用明当机。鹿与麈寻常易射，唯有麈中麈，是鹿中之王，最是难射。此麈鹿常于崖石上利其角，如锋铓颖利，以身护惜群鹿，虎亦不能近傍。这僧亦似惺惺，引来问药山，用明第一机。 |
In the Dongshan lineage, this case is called “asking by borrowing an affair”; it is also called “asking to distinguish the host,” used to illuminate the appropriate occasion. Deer are ordinarily easy to shoot, but the deer among deer is the king of deer and is especially difficult to shoot. This deer habitually sharpens its horns against cliff rocks until they are as keen as spear points. It uses its body to protect the herd, and even tigers cannot approach it. This monk, too, seemed alert and brought forth this question to Yaoshan in order to reveal the primary potential. |
| 山云：“看箭！”作家宗师，不妨奇特，如击石火，似闪电光。岂不见，三平初参石巩，巩才见来，便作弯弓势云：“看箭！”三平拨开胸云：“此是杀人箭、活人箭？”巩弹弓弦三下。三平便礼拜。 |
When Yaoshan said, “Watch the arrow!” he showed himself to be a master of the school, remarkably extraordinary—like a spark struck from stone or a flash of lightning. Have you not seen how Sanping first visited Shigong? As soon as Shigong saw him arrive, he assumed the posture of drawing a bow and said, “Watch the arrow!” Sanping opened his robe at the chest and said, “Is this an arrow that kills, or an arrow that gives life?” Shigong plucked the bowstring three times. Sanping then bowed. |
| 巩云：“三十年，一张弓两只箭，今日只射得半个圣人。”便拗折弓箭。三平后举似大颠。颠云：“既是活人箭，为什么向弓弦上辨？”三平无语。颠云：“三十年后要人举此话，也难得。 |
Shigong said, “For thirty years, with one bow and two arrows, today I have shot only half a sage.” Then he broke his bow and arrows. Later, Sanping brought this up to Dadian. Dadian said, “Since it was an arrow that gives life, why did you distinguish it by the bowstring?” Sanping had no reply. Dadian said, “Even thirty years from now, it will be hard to find someone who can bring up this saying.” |
| ”法灯有颂云：“古有石巩师，架弓矢而坐。如是三十年，知音无一个。三平中的来，父子相投和。子细返思量，元伊是射垛。”石巩作略，与药山一般。三平顶门具眼，向一句下便中的。 |
Fadeng composed a verse: “In ancient times there was Master Shigong, / Who sat with bow and arrows at the ready. / For thirty years thus, / Not one person knew his sound. / When Sanping struck the mark, / Father and son responded in harmony. / Reflect upon it carefully: / Originally, he himself was the target.” Shigong’s manner was the same as Yaoshan’s. Sanping had an eye at the crown of his head and hit the mark at a single word. |
| 一似药山道“看箭”，其僧便作麈放身倒。这僧也似作家，只是有头无尾。既做圈缋要陷药山，争奈药山是作家，一向逼将去。山云：“侍者，拖出这死汉。”如展阵向前相似。其僧便走也好，是则是，争奈不脱洒，粘脚粘手。所以药山云：“弄泥团汉，有什么限！” |
It was just like Yaoshan’s saying, “Watch the arrow!” The monk then acted like a deer and threw himself down. This monk, too, seemed to be a master of the school, but he had a head and no tail. Having drawn a circle to trap Yaoshan, he found that Yaoshan was a true master, who pressed him on without letup. When Yaoshan said, “Attendant, drag this dead fellow out,” it was like advancing in battle formation. It was good that the monk ran away, but he was not free and easy; his feet and hands still stuck fast. Therefore Yaoshan said, “You fellow playing with a lump of mud—what limits are there to you!” |
| 药山当时若无后语，千古之下遭人检点。山云“看箭”，这僧便倒。 |
If Yaoshan had not added those final words at the time, he would have been criticized throughout the ages. Yaoshan said, “Watch the arrow!” and the monk fell down. |
| 且道，是会是不会？若道是会，药山因什么却恁么道“弄泥团汉”？这个最恶，正似僧问德山：“学人仗镆鎁剑，拟取师头时如何？”山引颈近前云：“[囫-勿+力]！” 僧云：“师头落也。”德山低头归方丈。 |
Tell me: was he capable, or was he not? If you say he was capable, why then did Yaoshan call him “a fellow playing with a lump of mud”? This is the most dangerous point. It is just like when a monk asked Deshan, “If a student, relying on a Moye sword, were about to take the master’s head, what then?” Deshan stretched out his neck and moved it closer, saying, “Huo!” The monk said, “The master’s head has fallen.” Deshan lowered his head and returned to his abbot’s quarters. |
| 又，岩头问僧：“什么处来？”僧云：“西京来。”岩头云：“黄巢过后，曾收得剑么？”僧云：“收得。”岩头引颈近前云：“[囫-勿+力]！” 僧云：“师头落也。”岩头呵呵大笑。这般公案，都是陷虎之机。正类此。恰是药山不管他。只为识得破，只管逼将去。 |
Again, Yantou asked a monk, “Where have you come from?” The monk said, “I have come from the Western Capital.” Yantou said, “After Huang Chao passed through, did you recover a sword?” The monk said, “I did.” Yantou stretched out his neck and moved it closer, saying, “Huo!” The monk said, “The master’s head has fallen.” Yantou gave a hearty laugh. Gong’ans such as these are all devices for trapping tigers. This case is precisely of the same kind. Yaoshan simply did not accommodate him. Because he had seen through him, he kept pressing him on. |
| 雪窦云：“这僧三步虽活，五步须死。”这僧虽甚解看箭，便放身倒。山云：“侍者拖出这死汉。”僧便走。雪窦道，只恐三步外不活，当时若跳出五步外，天下人便不奈他何。作家相见，须是宾主始终互换，无有间断，方有自由自在分。这僧当时既不能始终，所以遭雪窦检点。后面亦自用他语，颂云： |
Xuedou said, “Though this monk lives after three steps, after five steps he must die.” Although this monk was quite adept at watching the arrow, he immediately threw himself down. Yaoshan said, “Attendant, drag this dead fellow out,” and the monk ran away. Xuedou says that he feared the monk would not survive beyond three steps. If at that time he had leapt beyond five steps, no one under heaven could have done anything to him. When masters of the school meet, host and guest must continually exchange places from beginning to end, without interruption; only then is there a measure of freedom and ease. Since this monk could not sustain it from beginning to end, Xuedou criticized him. Later, Xuedou used these very words in his verse: |
| 麈中麈，【高着眼看。擎头戴角去也。】 |
The deer among deer—[Look with a lofty eye. Off he goes, bearing his head and horns.] |
| 君看取。【何似生第二头走。要射便射，看作什么！】 |
You must look closely. [How could this compare with growing a second head and running away? If you want to shoot, then shoot—what are you looking at?] |
| 下一箭，【中也！须知药山好手。】 |
Release one arrow—[A hit! You must know that Yaoshan had a fine hand.] |
| 走三步。【活鱍鱍地，只得三步。死了多时，】 |
And run three steps. [Lively and vigorous, yet he can manage only three steps. He has been dead for a long time.] |
| 五步若活，【作什么？跳百步。忽有个死中得活时如何？】 |
If after five steps he lives, [What then? Leap a hundred steps. But what if someone comes alive amid death?] |
| 成群趁虎。【二俱并照。须与他倒退始得。天下衲僧放他出头。也只在草窠里。】 |
He leads the herd in pursuing the tiger. [Both illuminate one another. He must be made to retreat. The patch-robed monks of the world let him stick out his head, yet he remains only in a clump of grass.] |
| 正眼从来付猎人，【争奈药山未肯承当这话。药山则故是，雪窦又作么生？也不干药山事，也不干雪窦事，也不干山僧事，也不干上座事。】 |
The true eye has always been entrusted to hunters. [Yet Yaoshan would not acknowledge these words. Yaoshan is one thing, but what about Xuedou? It is none of Yaoshan’s business, none of Xuedou’s business, none of this mountain monk’s business, and none of your business.] |
| ……。 |
… |
| 雪窦高声云：看箭！【一状领过。也须与他倒退始得。打云：已塞却尔咽喉了也。】 |
Xuedou shouted loudly, “Watch the arrow!” [He accepts the whole case at once. He must be made to retreat. Striking him, he said: “I have already blocked your throat!”] |
| 麈中麈，君看取。衲僧家须是具麈中麈底眼，有麈中麈底头角，有机关，有作略。任是插翼猛虎戴角大虫，也只得全身远害。这僧当时放身便倒，自道：“我是麈。” |
“The deer among deer—you must look closely.” A patch-robed monk must possess the eyes of the deer among deer, the head and horns of the deer among deer, skillful devices, and ways of action. Even a fierce tiger with wings or a horned beast can only preserve itself and flee from danger. At that time, when the monk threw himself down, he was saying of himself, “I am the deer.” |
| 下一箭，走三步。山云“看箭”，僧便倒。山云“侍者拖出这死汉”，这僧便走。也甚好，争奈只走得三步！ |
“Release one arrow, and run three steps.” Yaoshan said, “Watch the arrow!” and the monk fell down. Yaoshan said, “Attendant, drag this dead fellow out,” and the monk ran away. This was indeed quite good, but he could manage only three steps! |
| 五步若活，成群趁虎。雪窦道，只恐五步须死。当时若跳得出五步外活时，便能成群去趁虎。其麈中麈，角利如枪，虎见亦畏之而走。麈为鹿中王，常引群鹿，趁虎入别山。 |
“If after five steps he lives, he leads the herd in pursuing the tiger.” Xuedou says that he feared the monk would have to die after five steps. If at that time he could have leapt beyond five steps and survived, he could then have led the herd in pursuing the tiger. The deer among deer has horns as sharp as spears; even a tiger fears it and flees. As king of the deer, it habitually leads the herd in driving tigers into other mountains. |
| 雪窦后面颂药山亦有当机出身处：“正眼从来付猎人”，药山如能射猎人，其僧如麈。雪窦是时因上堂，举此语束为一团话，高声道一句云：“看箭！”坐者立者，一时起不得。 |
In the latter part of his verse, Xuedou also shows Yaoshan’s fitting response: “The true eye has always been entrusted to hunters.” Yaoshan was like a hunter, and the monk like a deer. At that time, when Xuedou ascended the hall, he cited these words, bound them into a single utterance, and loudly said, “Watch the arrow!” Those seated and those standing were all unable to move at once. |
| 【莲清】：脑后拔箭？是什么意境啊？ |
[Lianqing]: Drawing an arrow from behind the head? What sort of image is that? |
| 【lvm】：古代武士的箭袋是斜背在背后的，向脑后一伸手就能拔出一支来。 |
[lvm]: In ancient times, warriors wore their quivers slung diagonally across their backs; by reaching behind the head, they could draw an arrow. |
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| 箭不在弦上，还须向脑后去拔。早已失去先机！ |
The arrow is not on the bowstring; one still has to draw it from behind one’s head. The initiative has already been lost! |
| 【雪山童子】：看圆悟禅师的评却很似电影的旁白 |
[Snow Mountain Youth]: Yuanwu Chan Master’s comments really resemble a film voice-over. |
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| 另：雪窦高声云：看箭！【一状领过。也须与他倒退始得。打云：已塞却尔咽喉了也。】 |
Also: Xuedou shouted loudly, “Watch the arrow!” [He accepts the whole case at once. He must be made to retreat. Striking him, he said: “I have already blocked your throat!”] |
| 这里的“打”，是做拨打箭的“来势”吗？ |
Does “striking him” here mean making the motion of knocking aside an incoming arrow? |
| 【lvm】：著语正是旁白。 |
[lvm]: The inserted comments are precisely like voice-over narration. |
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| 另：雪窦高声云：看箭！【一状领过。也须与他倒退始得。打云：已塞却尔咽喉了也。】 |
Also: Xuedou shouted loudly, “Watch the arrow!” [He accepts the whole case at once. He must be made to retreat. Striking him, he said: “I have already blocked your throat!”] |
| 这里的“打”，是做拨打箭的“来势”吗？ |
Does “striking him” here mean making the motion of knocking aside an incoming arrow? |
| ＊这里的“打云”，是一边打他，一边向他说话。 |
* Here, “striking him, he said” means that he spoke to him while striking him. |
| 【雪山童子】：哦！僧便走。雪窦道，只恐三步外不活…… |
[Snow Mountain Youth]: Oh! The monk then ran away. Xuedou said that he feared the monk would not survive beyond three steps … |
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| 僧便走——所以雪窦道，只恐三步外不活。 |
The monk then ran away—hence Xuedou said that he feared the monk would not survive beyond three steps. |
| 如果那僧能于山云：“看箭！”便打云：“已塞却尔咽喉了也。”——便跳出了五步以外了吗？ |
If, when Yaoshan said, “Watch the arrow!” that monk had immediately struck and said, “I have already blocked your throat!”—would he then have leapt beyond the five steps? |
| 【lvm】：他比不上德山跑得快。 |
[lvm]: He could not run as fast as Deshan. |
| 【雪山童子】：恩！那僧不过是学了几招“套路”罢了。 |
[Snow Mountain Youth]:Yes! That monk had merely learned a few set moves. |
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| 恩！那僧不过是学了几招“套路”罢了。心有趣向，胸有取舍，所以直饶走百步，也须丧身失命。而德山胸中无物，好比青天澈露，只不过德山这个“外家”高手，遇到了沩山禅师这个“太极”高手，即使跑的快，赢也赢得有些“仓促”…… |
Indeed! That monk had merely learned a few “forms.” His mind had inclinations and his breast held preferences; thus, even if he had gone a hundred paces, he would still have lost his life. Deshan, however, had nothing in his breast, as clear and open as the blue sky. It was only that this master of an “external school,” Deshan, encountered Chan Master Weishan, a master of “taiji.” Even if he ran quickly, his victory was somewhat hasty... |
| 哎！明明知道学“套路”没有用，却偏偏又心痒难搔，这不是“心有趣向，胸有取舍”，又是什么？ |
Alas! One clearly knows that learning “forms” is useless, yet one's heart still itches unbearably. If this is not “the mind has inclinations and the breast has preferences,” then what is it? |
| 大喝一声“呸！！！” |
With a great shout: “Pah!!!” |
| 【莲清】（接【lvm】：他比不上德山跑得快。）：那德山是走五步喽？ |
[Lianqing] (replying to [lvm]: “He could not run as fast as Deshan.”): Then did Deshan take five steps? |
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| 纵这么，也是七步就趴下了。。。^0^ |
Even so, he would collapse after seven steps... ^0^ |
| 【善财】（接【lvm】：他比不上德山跑得快。）：蛤蟆跳得三跳 |
[Shancai] (replying to [lvm]: “He could not run as fast as Deshan.”): A toad can make three hops. |
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| 还是蛤蟆。 |
Still a toad. |
| 【小蚂蚁】：药山何不道，向来谁欲麈中麈？ |
[Little Ant]: Why did Yaoshan not say, “Who has ever wished to be a deer among deer?” |
| 【善财】：药山却不弄此精魂。 |
[Shancai]: Yaoshan does not toy with such spirits and souls. |
| 【小蚂蚁】：古道冷馍 |
[Little Ant]: The ancient road, cold steamed buns. |
| 【善财】：江淮热肠 |
[Shancai]: The Yangtze and Huai, warm-hearted. |
| 【小蚂蚁】：菩提正命 |
[Little Ant]: Bodhi, true life. |
| 【莲清】（接【lvm】：古代武士的箭袋是斜背在背后的，向脑后一伸手就能拔出一支来。）：看箭！ |
[Lianqing] (replying to [lvm]: “Ancient warriors wore their quivers diagonally across their backs, so that by reaching behind their heads they could draw an arrow.”): Watch the arrow! |
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| 药山看箭射麈，雪窦拈香颂古，大好一箭，射中阿谁？ |
Yaoshan watched the arrow shoot the deer; Xuedou held up incense and praised the ancient case. A splendid arrow indeed—but whom did it strike? |
| 【lvm】：输却一半。 |
[lvm]: You have already lost half. |
| 【莲清】：今日被LVM带累。 |
[Lianqing]: Today I have been dragged down by LVM. |
| 【我偏不用这个名】：如何才跳出五步外？ |
[I Refuse to Use This Name]: How does one leap beyond five paces? |
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| 这僧虽甚解看箭，便放身倒。山云：“侍者拖出这死汉。”僧便走。雪窦道，只恐三步外不活，当时若跳出五步外，天下人便不奈他何。 |
Although this monk was quite adept at watching arrows, he simply threw himself down. Yaoshan said, “Attendant, drag this dead fellow out.” The monk then walked away. Xuedou said, “I only fear that he would not survive beyond three paces. Had he then leapt beyond five paces, no one under heaven could have done anything to him.” |
| 【lvm】：你偏不用哪个名啊？ |
[lvm]: Which name is it that you refuse to use? |
| 【我偏不用这个名】：哈哈，我偏不用【我偏不用这个名】这个名。 |
[I Refuse to Use This Name]: Ha ha, I refuse to use the name [I Refuse to Use This Name]. |
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| 悟空即如来，手心在手外。 |
Wukong is precisely the Tathāgata; the palm is outside the hand. |
| 跳出也跳外，见面说拜拜。 |
Leap out, and leap outside; meet face-to-face and say bye-bye. |
| 【lvm】：^o^ |
[lvm]: ^o^ |
| 【永光居士】：齐老师：我看不懂“把髻投衙”是什么意思？ |
[Lay Practitioner Yongguang]: Teacher Qi: I do not understand what “bringing one’s topknot to the magistrate’s office” means. |
| 【lvm】：就象到“打假办”去推销假货一样。 |
[lvm]: It is like going to the consumer-fraud office to market counterfeit goods. |
| 【永光居士】：哈哈哈—！“打假办” |
[Lay Practitioner Yongguang]: Hahaha—“the consumer-fraud office.” |
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| 笑死我了，哈哈哈。。。。。。 |
That is killing me with laughter, hahaha... |
| 齐老师这样一说，以后我可失业了，哈哈哈。。。。。。 |
If Teacher Qi puts it that way, I will be out of a job from now on, hahaha... |
| 【我偏不用这个名】（接【永光居士】：齐老师：我看不懂“把髻投衙”是什么意思？）：帮忙：佛学大词典——【把髻投衙】 |
[I Refuse to Use This Name] (replying to [Lay Practitioner Yongguang]: “Teacher Qi: I do not understand what ‘bringing one’s topknot to the magistrate’s office’ means.”): For reference: Buddhist Dictionary—“Bringing One’s Topknot to the Magistrate’s Office.” |
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| 【把髻投衙】 |
[Bringing One’s Topknot to the Magistrate’s Office] |
| 禅林用语。把髻，即战败时脱掉护头盔，走入敌阵；又指斩首时，抓住犯人之发髻并将之盘牢固定。衙，即官衙、官府。把髻投衙，原意谓自首请罪；在禅林中，转指禅僧愚蠢之程度，至完全不自觉自己之所作所为。 |
A Chan expression. “Grasping the topknot” originally meant removing one’s helmet after defeat and entering the enemy camp; it could also refer to seizing a criminal by the topknot and binding it securely before execution. “Office” refers to a government office or official authority. The original meaning of “bringing one’s topknot to the magistrate’s office” was to surrender oneself and plead guilty. In Chan circles, it came to refer to a Chan monk’s stupidity being so extreme that he is utterly unaware of what he is doing. |
| 碧岩录第八十一则（大四八·二○七中）：‘僧问药山：“平田浅草，麈鹿成群，如何射得麈中麈？”（把髻投衙，擎头带角出来，脑后拔箭）山云：“看箭！”僧放身便倒。’ |
Blue Cliff Record, Case 81 (Taishō 48, p. 207b): “A monk asked Yaoshan, ‘On a level plain of shallow grass, deer roam in herds. How does one shoot the deer among deer?’ (Bringing one’s topknot to the magistrate’s office; presenting one’s head and horns; drawing an arrow from behind one’s head.) Yaoshan said, ‘Watch the arrow!’ The monk threw himself down.” |
| 【闻无鼎】：此须以“公案”即于公堂结案解之 |
[Wen Wuding]: This must be understood by taking “koan” in the sense of a case concluded in a court of law. |
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| 只属伸头、举头一作用来理解而已，余于此随而作解仅供先生参考；此亦不离元音上师的《略论明心见性》中“作用有八”之义理，明须当下明得。此亦属禅门锻炼说之例，若于此初明心地很难，可以说属于越级跳。 |
It can only be understood in terms of the function of extending or raising one’s head. What follows is merely my interpretation, offered for your reference. It also accords with the principle of the “eight functions” in Master Yuanyin’s A Brief Discussion of Realizing the Mind and Seeing One’s True Nature: one must realize it immediately, in the very moment. This too is an example of Chan training through words; for one who has only just realized the mind-ground, it is very difficult—one might say it is like skipping levels. |
| 仅供参考。 |
For reference only. |
| 【永光居士】：谢谢！ |
[Lay Practitioner Yongguang]: Thank you! |
| 【永光居士】：我也已是“把髻投衙”了 |
[Lay Practitioner Yongguang]: I too have already brought my topknot to the magistrate’s office. |
| 【闻无鼎】：可惜！ |
[Wen Wuding]: What a pity! |
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| 汝尚不知出处！ |
You still do not know its source! |
| 【永光居士】：呵呵！你这不是“把髻投衙”了吗？ |
[Lay Practitioner Yongguang]: Hehe! Then have you not brought your topknot to the magistrate’s office? |
| 【闻无鼎】：呵呵！是又怎么样？ |
[Wen Wuding]: Hehe! So what if I have? |
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| 就你这种态度，挨到穷劫也难懂！ |
With an attitude like yours, you would not understand even after endless kalpas! |
| 【永光居士】：哈哈哈 |
[Lay Practitioner Yongguang]: Hahaha. |
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| BYBY |
BYBY |
| 【闻无鼎】：如此，对汝有何益？恕不再应对，希先生能如法地用功。 |
[Wen Wuding]: What benefit is there for you in this? Forgive me, but I shall not continue this exchange. I hope you can apply yourself to practice in accordance with the Dharma. |
| 【真智】：原文后面还有，lvm先来举一个 |
[True Wisdom]: There is more in the original text after this; let lvm present one first. |
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| 垂示云。竿頭絲線具眼方知。格外之機作家方辨。且道作麼生是竿頭絲線格外之機。試舉看 |
The introductory instruction says: Only one with the eye can know the thread at the tip of the pole; only a master can discern the activity beyond all conventions. Tell me, what are the thread at the tip of the pole and the activity beyond all conventions? Try presenting one and see. |
| 谁来举一个？ |
Who will present one? |
| lvm先来！ |
Let lvm go first! |
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| 垂示是谁的垂示呢？ |
Whose introductory instruction is this? |
| []里的是谁的评论？ |
Whose comments are those in the brackets? |
| 【莲清】：且待下回分解。 |
[Lianqing]: Let us wait for the next installment. |
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| 您那是第82的前言。 |
That is the preface to No. 82. |
| 【lvm】：这全是《碧岩录》的原文。 |
[lvm]: This is all original text from The Blue Cliff Record. |
