Blue Cliff Record 95

140
Blue Cliff Record (Hekiganroku, Biyan Lu) #95
Changqing and Baofu Discuss Buddha's Words

Personnel

• Baofu Congzhan (Hofuku Juten, 868?-928, 13th gen.)
• Changqing Huileng (Chokei Eryo, 854-932, 13th gen.)

Yuanwu's Preface

Do not remain where Buddha is; if you do horns will grow on your head.
Run quickly past the place where there is no Buddha, if not, weeds will grow like a jungle.
Even if you are entirely naked and absolutely bare, and the unhindered interpenetration of mind and circumstances is attained, you still cannot avoid resembling the fool who watched the tree stump to catch a hare.
Now tell me, what are you do do in order to be free from these faults?
See the following.

Case

One day Changqing said, "Even if you argue that an arhat [one who has reached the spiritual dimension without any traces of "the three poisons": covetousness, anger, folly] still possesses 'the three poisons,' don't argue that the Tathagata has two sorts of language. I do not say the Tathagata has no language but that he does not have two languages."
Baofu said, "What is the Tathagata's language?"
Changqing said, "How can a deaf person hear?"
Baofu said, "Now I know that your language belongs to the second level [you are speaking from a secondary principle]."
Changqing said, "What is the Tathagata's language?"
Baofu said, "Have a cup of tea."

Xuedou's Verse (Sekida, italics Cleary)

Who speaks from the first, who from the second principle?
   Head number one or number two --
Dragons do not lie in puddles;
   A reclining dragon does not look to still water.
Where dragons lurk,
   In the negation, waves settle wit the moon;
Waves arise when no wind blows.
   In the affirmation, waves rise without wind.
Oh! you Ryo Zen monk,
   Zennist Changqing, Zennist Changquing --
You've bruised your head on the Dragon Gate.
   You've failed to pass the dragon gate.

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