Baiyun Duan 12: Bodhidharma's "I Don't Know "

When Bodhidharma met Emperor Wu of Liang, Wu asked, “What is the highest and most sacred principle of the sages?”

Bodhidharma replied, "Empty, without holiness."

The Emperor said, “Tell me who you are,” to which the Master replied, “I don’t know.” The Emperor did not understand. The Master then snapped off a reed to cross the river into Wei.

Later, the Emperor raised this question before Zhigong, who said, “Does Your Majesty know this person?”

“I don’t know.”

“This is Guanyin, transmitting the Buddha Mind Seal."

“I ought to dispatch a messenger with an imperial edict for him.”

“Don’t speak Your Majesty's summons—were the whole nation’s people to go, he is now one who will not return.”

[0296b02] 達磨大師見梁武帝。帝問曰。如何是聖諦第一義。師曰。廓然無聖。帝曰。對朕者誰。師曰。不識。帝不悟。師遂折蘆渡江至魏。後帝舉問誌公。公曰。陛下識此人否。帝曰。不識。公曰。此是觀音大士。傳佛心印。帝曰。當遣使詔之。公曰。莫道陛下詔。闔國人去。他亦不回。

One arrow will usually fell one eagle—
Any more arrows have been spared.
A straight shot to sit before Shaoshi Peak—
Sovereign Liang, speak no more of sending your summons.

[0296b08] 一箭尋常落一鵰。更加一箭已相饒。直歸少室峰前坐。梁主休言更去招。

Submitted March 02, 2023 at 07:50AM by surupamaerl2 https://ift.tt/WLHcxU7