Sayings of Nanquan, 1.3

1.3

師寄書與茱萸云。The Master sent a calligraphy to Zhuyu,
理隨事變。"[When] the principle¹ adapts to changing affairs,
寬廓非外。'Spaciousness'² is not [something] external.
事得理融。[When] affairs befit the principle harmoniously,³
寂寥非內。'Solitude'⁴ is not [something] internal."
僧問茱萸。如何是寬廓非外。A monk asked Zhuyu, "What is 'Spaciousness is not external'?"
茱萸云。問一答百也無妨。Zhuyu said, "There's no hinderence in one question having one-hundred answers."
云。如何是寂寥非內。[The monk] asked "What is 'Solitude is not internal'?"
萸云。覩對聲色不是好手。Zhuyu said, "To direct one's gaze toward sights and sounds⁵ is not expert."
又問趙州。[The monk] also asked Zhaozhou [about 'Spaciousness is not external'].
州作喫飯勢。Zhaozhou made an 'eating' gesture.
僧進後語。The monk presented the followed phrase ['Solitude is not internal'].
州作拭口勢。Zhaozhou gestured 'wiping his mouth'.
又問長沙岑。[The monk] also asked Changsha [about 'Spaciousness is not external'].
岑瞪目視之。Changsha opened his eyes wide and gazed.
僧進後語。The monk presented the followed phrase ['Solitude is not internal'].
岑閉目示之。Changsha closed his eyes, instructively.
僧舉似師。The monk recounted [their responses] to the Master.
師云。此三人不謬為吾弟子。The Master said, "Those three won't deceive people, for they are my disciples."

Notes: 1. 理 ('li', here rendered as 'principle') is a Chinese concept that describes the 'grain' or 'patterning' in things like wood, but is also used to mean 'order; sequence; reason; logic; truth'.
2. 寬廓 (Spaciousness) literally, 'Wide; broad, wide; extensive'.
3.融 (harmoniously) also, 'blend; fuse; merge; be in harmony'.
4. 寂寥 (Solitude) literally, 'still; silent; lonely; desolate'.
5. This phrase can be a euphemism for 'amusing oneself with or indulging oneself in sensual pleasures'.

Submitted February 17, 2023 at 05:28PM by Surska0 https://ift.tt/VjuX9ey