BCR Case 59
Pointer
He includes the heavens and encompasses the earth, going beyond holy and profane. On the tips of the hundred weeds he points out the wondrous mind of nirvana; within the forest of shields and spears he decisively establishes the lifeline of patchrobed monks.
But tell me, endowed with whose power, can one get to be this way? As a test I cite this: look!
Case
A monk asked Chao Chou, " 'The Ultimate Path has no difficulties--just avoid picking and choosing. As soon as there are words and speech, this is picking and choosing.' So how do you help people, Teacher?"
Chou said, "Why don't you quote this saying in full?" The monk said, "I only remember up to here."
Chou said, "It's just this: 'This Ultimate Path has no difficulties--just avoid picking and choosing.' "
Commentary by Yuanwu
Chao Chou said, "It's just this: 'This Ultimate Path has no difficulties--just avoid picking and choosing.' " is like a stone-struck spark, like a flash of lightning. Capturing and releasing, killing and giving life--he has such independent mastery. All over they said that Chao Chou had eloquence beyond the common crowd.
Chao Chou often taught his community with this speech, saying, "The Ultimate Path has no difficulties--just avoid picking and choosing. As soon as there are words and speech, 'this is picking and choosing,' 'this is clarity.' This old monk does not abide within clarity; do you still preserve anything or not?" Once there was a monk who asked, "Since you do not abide in clarity, what is to be preserved?" Chou said, "I don't know either." The monk said, "Since you don't know, Teacher, why do you say you don't abide in clarity?" Chou said, "It's enough just to ask about this matter. Now bow and withdraw."
Later a monk picked on his gap and went to question him; this monk's questioning was undeniably extraordinary, but nevertheless it was just mental activity. Someone other than Chao Chou would have been unable to handle this monk. But what could he do? Chao Chou was an adept and immediately said, "Why don't you quote this saying in full?"
This monk too understood how to turn himself around and show his mettle; he said, "I only remember up to here." It seems just like an arrangement. Directly after the monk spoke, Chao Chou immediately answered him; he didn't need any calculations. [...]
It's wrong to say either that he had words or didn't have words; nor will it do to say that his answer neither had nor didn't have words. Chao Chou left behind all the permutations of logic. Why? If one discusses this matter, it is like sparks struck from stone, like flashing lightning. Only if you set your eyes on it quickly can you see it. If you hesitate and vascillate you won't avoid losing your body and life.
Commentary by Hakuin
Consider this monk to have been deceived by the words "only rejects discrimination." As soon as there are words spoken you are already involved in discrimination. How do you help people, teacher? If you can't open your mouth, how can you teach others? Joshu said, "Why not quote this saying fully?" "There's still more of the saying; why don't you say it all?" What an extraordinary, wonderful, amazingly great teacher! I only remember up to this point--He's a tough guy. Joshu said, "It's just this: 'The supreme way has no difficulty' " --This flavor can be known only to those who have had the experience of dealing with students.
Submitted December 17, 2017 at 10:42PM by exitiumetsapientia http://ift.tt/2yMaY1z
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