The Blue Cliff Record: Since people of these times do not understand, they frantically search outside themselves. They are far from knowing that the One Great Matter right where they are cannot be grasped even by a thousand sages.

The Blue Cliff Record: Ch'in Shan's One Arrowpoint Smashes Three Barriers [56th Case]

POINTER

The Buddhas never appeared in the world - there is nothing to be given to people. The Patriarch never came from the West­ - he never passed on the transmission by mind. Since people of these times do not understand, they frantically search outside themselves. They are far from knowing that the One Great Matter right where they are cannot be grasped even by a thousand sages.

Right now, where do seeing and not seeing, hearing and not hearing, speaking and not speaking, knowing and not knowing come from? If you are unable to apprehend clearly, then try to understand inside the cave of entangling vines. To test, I cite this: look!

CASE

A Ch'an traveller Liang asked Ch'in Shan, "How is it when a single arrowhead smashes three barriers?"

Shan said, "Bring out the lord within the barriers for me to see."

Liang said, "So then knowing my fault I must change." Shan said, "Why wait any longer?"

Liang said, "A well-shot arrow doesn't hit anywhere," and started to leave. Shan said, "Come here a minute." Liang turned his head; Shan held him tight and said, "Leaving aside for the moment a single arrowhead smashing three barriers, let's see you shoot an arrow." Liang hesitated, so Shan hit him seven times and said, "I'll allow as this fellow will be doubting for thirty more years."

Submitted October 16, 2020 at 05:46PM by __WanderingRonin__ https://ift.tt/3lQCfJ5