Sayings of Nanquan, 2.1-11

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Part 11: Practice

曰。到遮裏。某甲轉不會也。The monk said, "Arriving here, someone¹ does not understand where to turn."

師曰。你若不會。我更不會。The Master said, "If you do not understand, I do not understand even more."

曰。某甲是學人即不會。The monk replied, "Someone who is currently learning would not understand,
和尚是善知識合會。[but] the esteemed monk is a noble friend² for whom it is proper to understand."

師曰。遮漢向你道不會。The Master said, "This man facing you says he doesn't understand.
誰論善知識。Who [are you] determining to be a 'noble friend'?
莫巧黠。Don't be cunning.
看他江西老宿在日。Consider the old veteran of Jiangxi (Mazu) in his day:
有一學士來問。A scholar³ came and asked,
如水無筋骨。'If water is without muscles and bones,
能勝萬斛舟。[yet] able to bear boats of ten-thousand hú,⁴
此理如何。what is the principle of this?'
老宿云。遮裏無水亦無舟。The old veteran said, 'Here there is not water and there are not boats.
論什麼筋骨。What muscles and bones are we talking about?'
他學士便休去。The scholar then ceased and left.
可不省力。Indeed, this economized effort!
所以數數向道。That's just the reason again and again [I've] always said,
佛不會道。'Buddhas do not understand the Way.'
我自修行。I, myself practice Buddhism.
用知作麼。What is the use of knowledge?"

曰。如何修行。The monk asked, "How [do you] 'practice Buddhism'?

師曰。不可思量得。The Master said, "[One] must not keep pondering!
向人道恁麼修．恁麼行。大難。To direct people towards cultivating themselves 'this way' or conducting themselves 'that way' would be a disaster!

曰。還許學人修行否。The monk asked, "Yet, are students permitted to 'practice Buddhism' or not?"

師曰。老僧不可障得你。The Master said, "This old monk cannot hinder you."

曰。某甲如何修行。The monk asked, "How can someone 'practice Buddhism'?"

師曰。要行即行。The Master said, "[When you] want to act, then act!
不可專尋他輩。[You] must not devote [yourself] to seeking for others of a certain kind⁵ [for anything]!"

Notes:
1. 某甲 (someone) This phrase means 'someone unspecified', but can also be a humble way of referencing oneself.
2. 善知識 (noble friend) Literally, 'virtuous knowledge rememberer'. This is the Chinese term for the Buddhist concept of a Kalyāṇa-mittatā, a spiritual teacher who guides students towards awakening.
3. That scholar was Layman Pang.
4. 斛 (hú) Ancient unit of measurement.
5. 他輩 (others of a certain kind) Buddhas, Zen Masters, Gurus, etc.

Submitted March 24, 2023 at 02:06AM by Surska0 https://ift.tt/ceB4swT