THE GATELESS GATE - Chapter 23. Think Neither Good Nor Evil

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THE GATELESS GATE - Chapter 23. Think Neither Good Nor Evil

二十三　不思善惡
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六祖、因明上座、趁至大庾嶺。
The Sixth Patriarch was pursued by the monk Myo as far as Taiyu Mountain.
祖見明至、即擲衣鉢於石上云、此衣表信。可力爭耶、任君將去。
The patriarch, seeing Myo coming, laid the robe and bowl on a rock and said, "This robe represents the faith; it should not be fought over. If you want to take it away, take it now."
明遂擧之如山不動、踟□悚慄。明白、我來　求法、非爲衣也。
Myo tried to move it, but it was as heavy as a mountain and would not budge. Faltering and trembling, he cried out, "I came for the Dharma, not for the robe.
願行者開示。
I beg you, please give me your instruction."
祖云、不思善、不思惡、正與麼時、那箇是明上座本來面目。
The patriarch said, "Think neither good nor evil. At this very moment, what is the original self of the monk Myo?"
明當下大悟、遍體汗流。
At these words, Myo was directly illuminated. His whole body was covered with sweat.
泣涙作禮、問曰、上來密語密意外、還更　有意旨否。
He wept and bowed, saying, "Besides the secret words and the secret meaning you have just now revealed to me, is there anything else, deeper still?"
祖曰、我今爲汝説者、即非密也。
The patriarch said, "What I have told you is no secret at all.
汝若返照自己面目、密却在汝邊。
When you look into your own true self, whatever is deeper is found right there."
明云、其申雖在黄梅隨衆、實未省自己面目。
Myo said, "I was with the monks under Õbai for many years but I could not realize my true self.
今蒙指授入處、如人飲水冷暖自知。
But now, receiving your instruction, I know it is like a man drinking water and knowing whether it is cold or warm.
今行者即是某甲師也。
My lay brother, you are now my teacher."
祖云、汝若如是則吾與汝同師黄梅。
The patriarch said, "If you say so, but let us both call Õbai our teacher.
善自護持。
Be mindful to treasure and hold fast to what you have attained."

Mumon's Comment
無問曰、六祖可謂、是事出急家老婆心切。
The Sixth Patriarch was, so to speak, hurried into helping a man in an emergency, and he displayed a grandmotherly kindness.
譬如新茘支剥了殻去了核、送在你口裏、只要你嚥一嚥。
It is as though he peeled a fresh lichi, removed the seed, put it in your mouth, and asked you to swallow it down.

Mumon's Verse 頌曰

描不成兮畫不就
贊不及兮休生受
本來面目没處藏
世界壞時渠不朽

You cannot describe it; you cannot picture it;
You cannot admire it; don't try to eat it raw.
Your true self has nowhere to hide;
When the world is destroyed, it is not destroyed.

End of THE GATELESS GATE - Chapter 23. Think Neither Good Nor Evil horizotal line

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