常州天宁寺参学

江苏常州天宁禅寺。乃中国佛教著名之十方大丛林。寺产极多。财源丰富。禅教并行。唱念第一。斯时清光和尚主化。学者不远千里而来亲近。云公时年卅九岁。亦来习禅制过冬。

宣化偈曰：
天宁古寺有道风。地灵人杰藏象龙。
十方学者同聚会。参禅学教演梵音。

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.