贊曰：
聖諦不為，落何階級？
火裡蓮花，雪中紅日。
顯發大機，掀翻古轍。
千古繩規，三宗鼻祖。
註解：
「聖諦不為，落何階級」：聖諦既然不為了，那麼什麼階級都沒有了嘛！
「火裡蓮花，雪中紅日」：所以在火裡頭栽出蓮花來：雪是白的，可是那裡頭有紅的太陽。
「顯發大機，掀翻古轍」：他是一個大造大化，大機大用的一個人，把古來的規矩都給改了，推翻了。
「千古繩規，三宗鼻祖」：他又立出來千古的，出家人的規矩。佛教裡有三宗，他這個三宗也可以說是禪宗、淨土宗、教宗；祖鼻就是鼻祖，他是很高超很有地位的。
或說偈曰：
大機大用大神通，
聖諦不為有何宗？
言語道斷忘階級，
心行處滅泯西東。
分化一方說法主，
教導群萌悟本空。
千古繩規傳後世，
如是我聞無相功。
註解：
「大機大用大神通」：這個行思祖師，是一個大機大用的人，也得到大的神通。他問六祖修行的步驟，六祖大師就問他做了什麼事，說的什麼法？因為他說聖諦也不為了。聖諦就是四聖諦，他都不研究了。為什麼呢？因為他明白了。可是他是真明白，不是像我們後人，沒有明白假裝明白，不知道就冒充知道。不是這樣！他真知道了；真知道了，所以他說聖諦亦不為。
「聖諦不為有何宗」：那麼六祖大師說，你既然聖諦亦不為，那你還落到什麼階級上？聖諦不為，還有什麼階級？他明白了，所以說何階之有。六祖就說，對了！對了！就這樣，你就好好用這個功了。
所以叫大機大用大神通，聖諦不為有何宗。什麼宗旨都沒有了，掃一切法，離一切相，什麼都明白了。這是大澈大悟，不是冒充的說我什麼都明白了，我什麼都知道。不是的！
這個時候就「言語道斷忘階級」，言語的都斷了，沒有言語可說了，階級也都忘了，不知道什麼叫階級了。所以他才問嘛，什麼叫階級忘了？
「心行處滅泯西東」：心裡走的這條路，也沒有了，就是連個妄想都沒有了，心行處滅就是沒有妄想了。泯西東，什麼叫東方？什麼叫西方？也沒有了，什麼都了了。
「分化一方說法主」：所以曹溪叫他單獨的到一個地方去做一方的說法主，教化之主。
「教導群萌悟本空」：群萌就是眾生；教導一切的眾生悟本空，明白本來一切自性都是空的，不需要執著這一切，可是還要諸惡不作，眾善奉行。
「千古繩規傳後世」：他所立的法則，千古以下都是依照這種法則來做的，後世都是來效法他，以他為法則。
「如是我聞無相功」：我聽見這個道理，是我自己聽見的。這個是無相無功用道，沒有相的。所以說聖人哪，他是沒有私的，他也是不居功的。這也是無功用道，沒有什麼可修，沒有什麼可證的。
（「三十四祖青原行思禪師」文完）
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A verse in praise says:
He did not seek the truth of Sages,
So what successive stages could he fall into?
In the fire was a lotus;
In the snow, a red sun.
There appeared one with great expedients
Who tipped tradition out of its old ruts
And established a model for thousands of generations.
He is a lofty Patriarch of the Three Schools.
Commentary:
He did not seek the truth of Sages, so what successive stages could he fall into? Since the truth of the Sages was not actively sought, there weren't any successive stages at all.
In the fire was a lotus; in the snow, a red sun. In the fire a lotus flower appeared. The snow is white, but in it was a red sun.
There appeared one with great expedients who tipped tradition out of its old ruts. He was a person with great creativity, great transformations, great work, and great ability He revised the old rule. He upset staid tradition.
And established a model for thousands of generations. He is a lofty Patriarch of the Three Schools. He set up new rules for left-home people. The three schools may refer to (1) the Chan School, (2) the Pure Land School (3) the Teaching School. He was a lofty Patriarch. He exerted a tremendous influence.
Another verse says:
Great expedients, great functioning, great spiritual powers,
Not even acting upon the Sages' truth, what family did he have?
The path of words and language cut off, he forgot about stages.
The place of the mind's formations is gone;
distinctions of east and west disappear.
He was assigned to a place to be the Dharma Host,
To instruct and guide the masses so they awaken
to original emptiness.
The traditional rules from ancient times,
he transmitted to coming generations.
Thus I have heard of such work devoid of appearances.
Commentary:
Great expedients, great functioning, great spiritual powers, Patriarch Xingsi of Qingyuan was a person of great expedients and great functioning, and he attained great spiritual penetrations. He asked the Sixth Patriarch about the stage of cultivation, and the Great Master, the Sixth Patriarch, asked him what he did and what dharma he cultivated, since the Master from Qingyuan said he didn't even act upon the truth of the Sages. The "truth of the Sages" refers to the Four Noble Truths. He didn't investigate them. Why? Because he understood. But he really understood; he wasn't like those of us who have come after him and who, not understanding, pretend to understand; who, not knowing, pretend to know. It's not that we truly know. Since he truly knew, he said he didn't even act upon the truth of the Sages.
Not even acting upon the Sages' truth, what family did he have? The Sixth Patriarch said, "Since you don't act upon the truth of the Sages, then what successive stage do you have? What successive stage do you fall into?"
Since Master Qingyuan understood, he replied to the Sixth Patriarch, "What successive stages could there be?"
The Sixth Patriarch said, "Yes, that's how it is. Apply your effort well in that way."
And so he's called one of great expedients, great functioning, and great spiritual power. He didn't have any purport at all. He swept away all dharmas and was apart from all appearances. He understood everything. His was a great penetration, a great awakening. It wasn't that he just pretended and said, "I know everything, I understand everything." Not so.
The path of words and language cut off, he forgot about stages. And so, at that time, the avenue of language and words was cut off. There was nothing that could be expressed in words. Successive stages were all forgotten. He didn't even know what was meant by successive stages. That's what he asked.
The place of the mind's formations is gone; distinctions of east and west disappear. The path the mind traveled also did not exist. There wasn't even any false thinking, no east or west. Everything was ended.
He was assigned to a place to be the Dharma Host And so Caoxi told him to go to a place of his own and become a Dharma host. He was to go to another place to teach and transform people.
Instruct and guide the masses so they awaken to original emptiness. He taught and transformed all living beings so they could awaken to original emptiness— to the fact that everything is basically devoid of a nature of its own. There is no need to be attached to anything. But one must still not do any evil and must offer up all good conduct. Not being attached is one thing, but one must still do good and avoid doing evil.
The traditional rules from ancient times, he transmitted to coming generations. The rules he established were based on the rules set forth from ancient times. Later generations use these as their model.
Thus I have heard of such work devoid of appearances. "I heard about this principle and recognize it as the effortless work in the Way which is without any marks." So it's said that Sages don't have a self. They don't take credit for anything or claim any merit. This is walking the Way without attaining anything. There is nothing to cultivate or certify to. This is called practicing the Way without attainment.
(The End) |
