Baiyun Duan 44: Linji's Three Beatings

When Master Linji Yixuan asked Huangbo the true meaning of the Buddhadharma, Huangbo immediately hit him. This happened three times before Huangbo asked, "Three times you've suffered a beating, and in every case you've not rallied yourself—if you're to ever make progress, why don't you leave Mt. Huangbo, travelling far away from here?" Huangbo then pointed towards Dayu, where Linji went.

Dayu asked, "Where do you come from?"

"From Huangbo."

"What does Huangbo teach?"

"I asked about the true meaning of the Buddhadharma, only to suffer three beatings from the Master's cudgel, but I've not yet understood—where was I at fault?"

"Is Huangbo your wife, to weary himself being so clear on your behalf? And still, you ask where you're at fault!"

Linji immediately had a great realization, and said, "As it turns out, the Buddhadharma is not much." Dayu then grabbed and held Linji, saying, "You bed wetting demon! Just now you said you don't understand, and now you say 'it's not much.' Speak! How much is it?!"

Linji attacked Dayu, battering him below the ribs with his fist three times. Dayu pushed him away and said, "Your teacher is Huangbo—this is not my concern."

When Linji returned, Huangbo asked, "Why have you come back so quickly?"

"Out of respect for my anxious wife."

"Why do you say this?"

Linji related what was said at Dayu. Huangbo replied, "That idiot has such a loose tongue! Wait 'til I see him—I'll give him another knock!"

"Why wait until you see him?" Linji struck Huangbo with an open palm, who stuttered and stammered, roaring with laughter.

[0298c07] 臨濟玄禪師。問黃檗佛法的的意。檗便打。如是三問。三度被打。皆不契會。遂辭檗行脚去。檗指往大愚。師至大愚。愚曰。那裡來。師曰。黃檗來。愚曰。黃檗有何言教。師曰。親問佛法的的意。蒙和尚三度賜棒。未審。過在甚處處。愚曰。黃檗恁麼老婆。為汝得徹困。猶覔過在。師於是大悟曰。佛法元來無多子。愚乃搊住曰。者尿牀鬼。適來道不會。如今又道無多子。且道。是多少。師向愚肋下築三拳。愚拓開曰。汝師黃檗。非干我事。師還黃檗。檗曰。返何速乎。師曰。祗為老婆心切。檗曰。有何言句。師舉前話。檗曰。者大愚饒舌。待見與他一頓。師曰。說甚待見。即今便打。遂打檗一掌。檗吟吟大笑。

One punch, a fist knocks down Yellow Crane Tower,
One kick, a boot flips Parrot Island—
When you have will and energy, will and spirit increase,
There's refinement even where there are no manners.

[0298c19] 一拳拳倒黃鶴樓。一踢踢翻鸚鴟洲。有意氣時添意氣。不風流處也風流。

Submitted April 17, 2023 at 12:44AM by surupamaerl2 https://ift.tt/gD7Xx19