The National Teacher’s seamless monument.1
[0296c08] 國師無縫塔。
Emperor Daizhong asked, “After the Teacher has died, how should his students remember him?” The Teacher said, “Entreat your benefactors for a place to build a seamless monument.” The Emperor asked, “To accomplish the Teacher’s request, convey to me the style of the monument.”
The Teacher remained silent a long while, then said, “Do you understand?”
"I don't understand."
The Teacher said, “After this poor monk is gone, consult my attendant Yingzhen, who knows about this matter.”
The Teacher died, lying on his right side, on December 9th, 775. His students respectfully held a ceremony for the departed at Dangzi valley, installing a monument. By imperial decree, he was given the posthumous title “Zen Master Dazheng.”
After, the Emperor commanded Yingzhen to come, raising the Teacher’s words from before, he asked about their meaning. Yingzhen remained silent a long while and asked, “Does Your Majesty understand?”
"I don't understand."
Zhen recounted this verse:
South of Xiang,
North of Tan,
Inside there's gold to fill a country,
Under the shadowless tree is a ship where they meet,
Without knowing the precious stone above the throne.
[CBETA.T51n2076_005.0244a07] 代宗曰。師滅度後弟子將何所記。師曰。告檀越。造取一所無縫塔。曰就師請取塔樣。師良久曰。會麼。曰不會。師曰。貧道去後有侍者應真。却知此事。大歷十年十二月九日右脅長往。弟子奉靈儀於黨子谷建塔。勅諡大證禪師。代宗後詔應真入內舉問前語。真良久曰。聖上會麼。曰不會。真述偈曰。湘之南。潭之北。中有黃金充一國。無影樹下合同船。瑠璃殿上無知識。
The follower who shaped the seamless monument by hand,
Although they have the style, they are unable to pass it on—
How are they without rank, who stubbornly copy?
Turned forever toward the precious stone above the throne.
[0296c09] 無縫塔從誰手造。雖然有樣不堪傳。如何強寫無層級。永向琉璃殿上懸。
1 Sometimes the lines left by a Zen Master doesn't give the full case, but a short pointer to direct readers towards which case the verses are about. Translated below is the full case, taken from the Transmission of the Lamp record.
Submitted March 07, 2023 at 03:46AM by surupamaerl2 https://ift.tt/Z4tWakv
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