常州天寧寺參學

江蘇常州天寧禪寺。乃中國佛教著名之十方大叢林。寺產極多。財源豐富。禪教並行。唱念第一。斯時清光和尚主化。學者不遠千里而來親近。雲公時年卅九歲。亦來習禪制過冬。

宣化偈曰：
天甯古寺有道風。地靈人傑藏象龍。
十方學者同聚會。參禪學教演梵音。

Taking part in a study at T'ien Ning Monastery in Ch'ang Chou

The T'ien Ning Monastery in Ch'ang Chou County of Chiangsu Province is a large Buddhist Way Place known throughout China. The monastic property and wealth were plentiful and its blessings abundant. Both the Ch'an and teaching schools were practiced there, and it was foremost in recitation. The Venerable Master Ch'ing Kuang (Pure Light) was the Abbot at this time. Students who were a thousand miles away did not consider it far to come to draw near to him. In his 39th year, the Master arrived at the monastery to undertake the regulations of Ch'an meditation and passed the inter there.

The verse says:
The ancient T'ien Ning Monastery was said to possess the Way.
Its setting was magical and people heroic, and elephants and tigers were hidden there.
Thus the students from all ten directions gathered together
To sit in Ch'an and study the teachings expressed in pristine voice.