Blue Cliff Record

碧巖錄

Bìyán Lù   (Pi-yen-lu; J. Hekiganroku)

 

Translated by Gregory Wonderwheel © 2008

 

[This is a work in progress for a new translation of the Blue Cliff Record.  Frankly, it may never be completed.  My current plan is to translate in stages.  The first stage is to translate the 100 koans selected by Xuedou. Next I plan to translate the verses for each koan written by Xuedou. In some cases I'm translating the verse simultaneously.  Third, will be the translation of the preface to each koan written by Yuanwu.  The fourth stage will translate the interlinear notes to the koans by Yuanwu, then fifth Yuanwu's interlinear notes to the verses. Lastly the two final stages are the largest parts of the work consisting of Yuanwu's commentary to the koans and his commentary to the verses.  I expect to do the koans and verses, but beyond that I cannot foresee.

            Readers should note that the original text of the Blue Cliff Record does not include a table of contents or individual titles for each case. Thus the titles provided here are my own, as the titles provided by other translators are theirs.  I follow the convention, used in both the Gateless Checkpoint and The Record of the Serene, making a four character title, with the name the person who is the main protagonist coming first and then a description that seems to hit on the point or dramatic pivot of that person's teaching.

            This translation of The Blue Cliff Record translates the Chinese available online provided by the Chinese Buddhist Electronic Text Association (CBETA) at http://w3.cbeta.org/result/normal/T48/2003_001.htm  of the Taisho Tripitaka Vol. 48, No. 2003 佛果圜悟禪師碧巖錄, CBETA Chinese Electronic Tripitaka V1.27 (Big5) Normalized Version, Release Date: 2007/01/04.
            My purpose in providing at least a new translation of the koans and verses is to make this koan collection more readily available for the English reader.  I don't feel that leaving out Yuanwu's additions is too worrisome at this point because to do so presents the koans and verses in a format similar to the way Xuedou would have left his collection and the way that Yuanwu would have found it prior to adding his prefaces, notes and commentaries. This stripped down format is closer in style to the format of Wumen's Gateless Checkpoint, ad represents the style of the first generation of koan manuscripts developed by the Zen teachers.  

            I'll be adding the translated portions piecemeal as they are completed.  As usual, I welcome well intentioned comments about this work at Wonderwheel @ pon . net (remove spaces) ]

           

 

Table of Contents.

 

Case 1  達磨不識  Bodhidharma Doesn't Know

Case 2  趙州至道 Zhao Zhou Reaching the Way

Case 3  馬師不安 Master Ma Was Restless

Case 4  德山挾複  Deshan Carrying a Bundle

Case 5  雪峰粟米 Xuefeng's Rice Grain

Case 6  雲門好日  Yunmen's Good Day

Case 7  法眼云汝  Fayan Said "You"

Case 8  翠嵒眉毛  Cuiyan's Eyebrows

Case 9  趙州四門 Zhaozhou's Four Gates

Case 10  睦州掠虛 Muzhou Robbing and Deceiving

Case 11  黃檗酒糟 Huangbo's Wine Dregs

Case 12  洞山三斤  Dongshan's Three Pounds

Case 13  巴陵盛雪 Baling Heaping Snow

Case 14  雲門對說 Yunmen's Answering Utterance

Case 15  雲門倒說 Yunmen's Emptying Utterance

Case 16  鏡清草裏  Jingqing In the Grass

Case 17  香林坐久  Xianglin's Long Sitting

Case 18  忠無縫塔  Zhong's Seamless Stupa

Case 19  倶胝一指  Juzhi's One Finger

Case 20  龍牙任打  Longya Allows a Hit

Case 21  智門蓮花  Zhimen's Lotus Flower

Case 22  雪峰一蛇 Xuefeng's Single Snake

Case 23  保福山次  Baofu's Mountain Rest Stop

Case 24  劉鐵磨齋  Iron Grindstone Liu's Vegetarian Meal

Case 25  庵主不顧 The Hermitage Master Doesn't Turn His Head

Case 26  百丈獨坐  Baizhang Sitting Alone

Case 27  雲門金風  Yunmen's Golden Wind

Case 28  南泉底法 Nanquan's Fundamental Dharma

Case 29  大隋壞去  Dasui's Destroyed and Gone

Case 30  趙州大頭  Zhaozhou's Big Heads

Case 31  麻谷敗壞  Magu Defeated and Destroyed

Case 32  臨濟大意  Linji's Great Meaning

Case 33  資福一圓  Zifu's One Circle

Case 34  仰山遊山  Yangshan Hiking on the Mountain

Case 35  文殊三三  Manjusri's Three Threes

Case 36  長沙遊山  Changsha Hiking on the Mountain

Case 37  盤山無法  Panshan Without Things

Case 38  風穴鐵牛 Fengxue's Iron Ox

Case 39  雲門藥欄  Yunmen's Hedge

Case 40  南泉花夢  Nanquan's Flower Dream

[…]

Case 62 雲門三門 Yunmen's Triple Gate

 

 

碧巖錄 The Blue Cliff Record

 

Case 1 Bodhidharma Doesn't Know

 

            Raised:  Emperor Wu of Liang asked great master Damo, "So, what is the primary meaning of the holy truths?"

            Mo said, "Empty, thus not holy."

            The Emperor said, "Who is this one opposing us?"

            Mo said, "Don't know."

            The Emperor did not concur.  Damo proceeded to cross over the river and arrived at the kingdom of Wei.

 

            Afterwards the Emperor brought it up and asked the Official of the Annals.  The Official of the Annals said, "Does Your Highness still deny knowing this person?"

            The Emperor said, "Don't know."

            The Official of the Annals said, "This is the Great-being Guanyin (Mahasattva Avalokiteśvara.) transmitting the imprint of the Buddha's Heart-Mind."

            The Emperor regretted and proceeded to dispatch a messenger to go and beseech  [him to return].  The Official of the Annals said, "Your Highness do not say to send out a messenger to go fetch him. The people of the entire nation could go, and he still would not return."

 

Case 2.  Zhao Zhou Reaching the Way

 

            Raised:  Zhaozhou instructed the multitude and said, "'Reaching the Way is not difficult, only be suspicious of choosing.'  Not until there is language is there choosing or is there clarity.  The old monk is not present within clarity.  Are you still fond of taking sides or not?"

            At that time a monk had a question: "Since [one/you/ I] not present within clarity,

What part of taking of sides is there to be fond of?"

            Zhou said, "I too do not know."

            Monk said,  "Venerable, since [you] do not know, how can [you], instead say [you are] 'not present within clarity'?"           

            Zhou said, "By asking, you are able to draw near the matter; complete the ceremonial bowing and withdraw."

 

3 Master Ma Was Restless

 

            Raised:  Great Master Ma was restless. The chief of the courtyard asked, "Venerable, so what have your esteemed hopes of recent days been?"

            Great Master said, "Sun Face Buddha, Moon Face Buddha."

 

Case 4. Deshan Carrying a Bundle

 

            Raised:  Deshan arrived at Guishan carrying under his arm his vestment bundle and went up into the Dharma Hall.  From the east he crossed to the west. From the west he crossed to the east.  He turned his head to look around and observe and said "Without, without."  (alt."Nothing, nothing" or "Not, not.") Then he exited. 

            Xuedou's attached words say, "Examine and expose too!" 

            Deshan got to the main gate and turned back saying, "I should not get careless either." 

            Then he prepared for a dignified ceremony and again entered to meet together.  Guishan sat.  Next Deshan lifted and unfolded his sitting paraphenalia (i.e., a sitting cloth or very thin mat) and said, "Venerable."

            Guishan intended to take up the whisk.  Deshan then shouted and shook (pun with whisk) his sleeves and then exited.

            Xuedou's attached words say, "Examine and expose too!" 

            Deshan turned his back on the Dharma hall, put on his straw sandals, and then went on foot.  When evening arrived, Guishan asked the Head-Seat monk,   "The coming and going newcomer, where is he?"

            The Head-Seat said, "At that time he turned his back and withdrew from the Dharma hall; wearing his straw sandals he exited and went away besides!"

            Guishan said, "In that case, then, the son will afterwards be guided to ascend to the top of a solitary peak to tie and weave a grass hut where he will have leave to laugh at the Buddhas and revile the ancestors."

            Xuedou's attached words say, "Frost is added over the snow."

 

Case 5. Xuefeng's Rice Grain

                                                                       

            Raised: Xuefeng, teaching the assembly, said, "I pick up the entire great earth with my fingers and bring it like a big grain of rice from the paddy. I throw it away toward the area in front of you.  The lacquer bucket does not meet it.  I beat the universal drum begging you to look at it."

 

Case 6  Yunmen's Good Day

 

            Raised:  Yunmen handed down words and said, "I do not ask you about before the 15th day has ended.   I invite you to speak using one sentence about after the 15th day is done."

            He substituted himself and said, "Every day is a good day."

 

Case 7   Fayan Consults with Huichao

 
               Raised:  A monk asked Fayan, "Huichao is consulting, Venerable, so what is Buddha?" 

            Fayan said, "You are Huichao."

 

8 Cuiyan's Eyebrows

 

      Raised: Cuiyan at the end of summer instructed the assembly and said, "Continuing since the first of the summer elder brothers and younger brothers, I clarified by words.  Observe, are Cuiyan's eyebrows on?"

            Baofu said, "I regard the thief's heart-mind as deceptive (alt. hollow, empty void)."

            Changquing said, "Alive also."

            Yunmen said, "Checkpoint."

 

Case 9 Zhaozhou's Four Gates

 

               Raised:  A monk asked Zhaozhou, "So what is Zhaozhou?   

            Zhou said, "East gate, west gate, south gate, north gate."

 

Case 10  Muzhou Robbing and Deceiving

 

            Raised:  Muzhou asked a monk, "What place did you leave from nearby?”

            The monk then shouted.

            Zhou said, "This old monk, because of you, has one shout."

            The monk again shouted.

            Zhou said, "After three shouts and four shouts, how do you make it come alive?"

            The monk was speechless.

            Zhou then hit him and said, "This is the top fellow of robbing and deceiving."

 

Case 11 Huangbo's Wine Dregs

 

            Raised: Huangbo instructed the assembly and said, "You people of various ranks are indeed fellows who use up the dregs of the wine (alt. the wine and the dregs). In this way you travel about on your feet. At what place is today?  Do you even know that within the great nation of Tang there are no Zen teachers?"

            At that time there was a monk who stood out and said, "But there seems to be in the various directions those who correct disciples and guide assemblies, how do they make it come alive?"

            Bo said, "I did not say no Zen; only no teachers."

 

Case 12  Dongshan's Three Pounds

 

            Raised:  A monk asked Dongshan, "So what is Buddha?"

            Shan said, "Three pounds of flax."

 

Case 13  Baling Heaping Snow
 
               Raised: A monk asked Baling, "So what is the Deva lineage?"*

            Baling said, "Heaping snow in a silver bowl."

 

[*  Deva is short for Kanadeva, also known as Aryadeva, an Indian dhyana master prior to Bodhidharma and known for his eloquence and debating skills.  Kanadeva is considered to be the 15th founding ancestor of the Zen lineage and the dharma heir of the great Buddhist teacher Nargarjuna who was the 14th founding ancestor. The question has a dual reference to Kanadeva's personal teaching style and to the Zen lineage in general. Some translators translate the question simply as "What is Zen?"  And since the two Chinese characters used for the transliteration of deva can be translated literally as "to raise or mention an old woman," at least one translator has translated the question as the pun "What is old-lady Zen?"]

 

Case 14 Yunmen's Answering Utterance

 

            Raised: A monk asked Yunmen, "So what is the teaching of a single/one/whole epoch?"

            Yunmen said, "Answering a single utterance."  

 

Case 15 Yunmen's Emptying Utterance

 

            Raised: A monk asked Yunmen, "When it is not the current function and not the current phenomena, at that time what is it like?"

            Men said, "Emptying a single utterance."

 

Case 16  Jingqing In the Grass

 

            Raised: A monk asked Jingqing, "This student spits. I beg the teacher to peck."

            Qing said, "Yet, are you able to be alive or not?"

            The monk said, "If I'm not alive, then people who encounter me would marvel and laugh."

            Qing said, "You too are a fellow in the grass."

 

[Xuedou's Verse:]

 

The Buddhas of old had a family style.

The raising of comparisons incurred devaluing and stripping away.

Child and mother do not recognize each other.

Is there someone who is equally spitting and pecking?

Pecking, awakening,

Yet even so, he's in the shell.

Valuing incurs a beating.

Patch-robed monks under Heaven disdain fame.

 

Case 17  Xianglin's Long Sitting

 

            Raised: A monk asked Xianglin. "So, what was the intent of the ancestral founder coming from the west?"

            Lin said, "To sit for a long time becomes work."

 

Case 18 Zhong's Seamless Stupa

 

               Raised: Emperor Suzong asked National Teacher Zhong, "What thing should be in place for 100 years afterwards?"

               The National Teacher said, "Build that seamless stupa to give to this old monk."

               The Emperor stated, "Please teacher, what is the appearance of the stupa?"

               The National Teacher waited a good long time and said, "Are you able to?"*

               The Emperor said, "I'm not able to."

               The National Teacher said, "I have handed down the Dharma to my disciple Danyuan,, however he is fully acquainted with this business. Please decree that the question goes to him."

               Afterwards, the National Teacher passed into transformation.              

               The Emperor decreed that Danyuan be asked, "What is this meaning?"

               Yuan said, "South of the river, north of the lake,"

               Xuedou's attached words say, "A single palm does not make the sound of waves."

               "In the middle there is gold sufficient for the whole nation."

               Xuedou's attached words say, "A staff shaped in the mountains."

               "Below the shadowless tree, gathered in the same boat."

               Xuedou's attached words say, "A peaceful sea, a clear river."

               "Up in the Crystal Palace, non-knowing."

               Xuedou's attached words say, "Picking it up is finished!"

 

[Xuedou's Verse:]

 

               Looking back at the seamless stupa is difficult.

               The clear and still deep pool does not allow the green dragon to coil up (within it).

               The floors go down and down, the reflections go round and round,

               For 1,000 ancient ages, 10,000 ancient ages, people take part in watching over it.

 

[* The question "Are you able to?" is suitably ambiguous. It includes the meanings of, Are you able to: see it?, build it?, understand what I mean?, etc.]

 

Case 19  Juzhi's One Finger

 

            Raised: Venerable Juzhi, whenever he was questioned, simply stood up one finger.

 

[Xuedou's Verse:]

 

               I am profoundly fond of old Juzhi for being one who draws out the teachings.

               The universe comes in emptiness, more than that who exists?

               Again and again, he has faced toward the blue sea and dropped down driftwood

               On the waves in the night to join in welcoming blind turtles.

 

 

Case 20  Longya Allows a Hit
 
               Raised:  Longya asked Cuiwei, "So, what is the meaning of the ancestral founder's coming from the West?"
               Wei said, "Come, pass over the meditation board and give it to me."
               Ya passed over the meditation board to give it to Cuiwei. Wei received it and then was able to hit him.
               Ya said, "If you hit, then I'll allow the hit; essentially, however it is not the meaning of the ancestral founder's coming from the west." 
               Ya also asked Linji, "So, what is the meaning of the ancestral founder's coming from the West?"
               Ji said, "Come, pass over the rush-ball (sitting cushion) and give it to me."
               Ya fetched the rush-ball and passed it over to give to Linji.  Ji received it and was able to then hit him.
               Ya said, "If you hit, then I'll allow the hit; essentially, however it is not the meaning of the ancestral founder's coming from the west."
 
[Xuedou's 1st Verse:]
 
Underneath Dragon Tooth Mountain the dragon is eyeless.
When has stagnant water roused the ancient wind?
If you are not able to use the meditation board and the rush-ball cushion,
You should just part from them and give them over to Mister Black.
 
[Xuedou's 2nd Verse:]

 

This old fellow even is not able to completely exhaust it and returns to complete the first verse.
Mr. Black handed over likewise. What did he rely on? 
Stop with the sitting and leaning and you will carry on the ancestor's lamp.
Adequate for replying: The returning evening clouds have not combined;
The distant mountains are limitless layers and layers of blue.

 

Case 21 Zhimen's Lotus Flower

 

            Raised:  A monk asked Zhimen, "What is it like at the time the lotus flower has not yet gone out from the water?"

            Zhimen said, "A lotus flower."

            The monk said, "What is it like at the time gone out from the water?"

            Men said, "Lotus leaves."

 

Case 22 Xuefeng's Single Snake

 

            Raised:  Xuefeng taught the assembly saying: "On South Mountain (alt: the south side of the mountain) there is a single turtle-nosed snake.   You people of various ranks should take a good look."

            Changqing said, "Today within the hall, great are the people who lose body and lose life."

            A monk raised this to show to Xuansha.   Xuansha said, "Although in this way it is necessary that Elder Brother [Changqing] Leng be able to begin, I do not draw near like this."

            The monk said, "Venerable, how do you make it come alive?"

            Xuansha said, "Why make use of 'South Mountain'?"

            Yunmen flung down his staff towards Xuefeng and in front of his face made gestures of fear.

 

Case 23 Baofu's Mountain Rest Stop

 

            Raised:  Baofu and Changqing hiked to the rest stop on the mountain. Fu using his finger to point said, "Just this place on the side then is the summit of wonder."

            Qing said, "It is the norm as it is, but a pity to admit it.

            Xuedou attached words saying, "Today, sharing a hike on the mountain with these fellows, what is there in particular to seek?"

            Again he said, "A hundred thousand years afterwards, I do not say without any, only they are few."

            Afterwards it was raised to show Jingqing.  Qing said, "If not for Grandfather Sun, then one would see skulls throughout the countryside."

 

Case 24 Iron Grindstone Liu's Vegetarian Meal

 

               Raised: Iron Grindstone Liu arrived at Guishan.  Shan said, "Old cow, you came hah!"

            Grindstone said, "In the coming day at Lookout Mountain (Taishan) there is a great assembly to provide monks with a vegetarian meal.  Venerable, will you be leaving to go back there?"

            Guishan relaxed his body and lay down to sleep.

            Grindstone then left.

 

Case 25  The Hermitage Master Doesn't Turn His Head

 

            Raised: The master of the Hermitage of Lotus Flower Peak picked up his staff to show the assembly and said, "The people of ancient times arrived at this place, why didn't they agree to dwell here?"

            The assembly had no words, so he substituted himself and said, "They did not gain strength on their journey. "

            Again he said, "When completely finished, what is it like?"

            Again he substituted himself and said, "With a chestnut walking stick across my shoulders I am not a person who turns my head around to look back.  I directly enter the 1,000 peaks and the 10,000 peaks." And he left.

 

Case 26   Baizhang Sitting Alone

 

            Raised: A monk asked Baizhang, "So what is the peculiar matter?"

            Zhang said, "Sitting alone on Great Victory (Daixiong) summit."

            The monk ceremoniously bowed.

            Zhang then hit him.

 

Case 27. Yunmen's Golden Wind

 

            Raised:  A monk asked Yunmen, "What is it like in the season when the tree withers and the leaves fall?"

            Yunmen said, "The body reveals the golden wind."

 

Case 28 Nanquan's Fundamental Dharma

 

               Raised:  Nanquan visited Venerable Baizhang Neipan.  Zhang asked, "All sages accord with the superior, still is there a fundamental Dharma that they have not spoken for people?"

               Quan said, "There is."

               Zhang said, "How do you make alive 'the fundamental Dharma that is not spoken for people'?"

               Quan said, "It is not Heart-Mind; it is not Buddha; it is not things."

               Zhang said, "You have spoken too."

               Quan said, "Some people are first class, but I'm like this.  Venerable, how do you make it come alive?"

               Zhang said, "I actually am not very good at knowledge, and I struggle to recognize that there is speaking and not speaking."

               Quan said. "Some people have not learned to be first class."

            Zhang said, "Having spoken too, I am excessive for you."

 

Case 29 Dasui's Destroyed and Gone

 

            Raised: A monk asked Dasui, "In the void of the Fire Kalpa, most certainly the great many thousands are altogether destroyed, but I have not yet discerned if this one is destroyed or not destroyed?"

            Sui said, "Destroyed."

            The monk said, "In this way then, it follows the other is gone too."

            Sui said, "It follows the other is gone."

 

[Xuedou's Verse:]

 

In the center of the light of the fire kalpa is the cause of setting up a question.

The patch-robed monk is as if blocked by two difficult checkpoints.

One may sympathize with the words of the one phrase "it follows the other..."

Discriminations and discriminations for 10,000 miles -- solitary, the going and returning.

 

Case 30 Zhaozhou's Big Heads

 

               Raised:  A monk asked Zhaozhou, "I have heard the Venerable has intimately seen Nanquan; do you deny it?"

            Zhou said. "The Zhou township produces big turnip heads."

 

[Xuedou's Verse]

 

The Zhou township produces big turnips.

The patchrobed monks under heaven grasp at principles

and only know the past self and the current self.

They struggle to distinguish the white swans and the black crows.

Robber! Robber!

The nostrils of the patchrobed monks have already gotten pinched.

 

Case 31  Magu Defeated and Destroyed

 

               Raised:  Magu holding his ring-staff* arrived at Zhangjing and went around the meditation bench three full circles, shook the ring-staff once and next stood there stately.

               Jing said, "Correct, correct."

               Xuedou attached words saying, "Mistaken."

               Magu in addition arrived at Nanquan and went around the meditation bench three full circles, shook the ring-staff once, and next stood there stately.

               Quan said, "Incorrect, incorrect."

               Xuedou attached words saying, "Mistaken."

               Magu, rich in opportunity, said, "Zhangjing said, 'Correct', Venerable, why did you say, 'Incorrect'?"

               Quan said, "Zhangjing immediately was correct; you were incorrect. Here is a strong wind turning about in place, in the end it is defeated and destroyed."

 

[* "Ring-staff" is written with just the character 錫 that literally means "tin" and is a nickname for the sounding or ringing staff (聲杖). "Tin" refers to the metal rings on the top of the staff that make the ringing sounds as the monk travels along.]

 

Case 32  Linji's Great Meaning

 

               Raised:  Upper-Seat Ding asked Linji, "So, what is the great meaning of the Buddha Dharma?"

               Ji got down from the meditation (Zen) bench and seized and held him and gave a single slap, then held up his open palms.

               Ding stood motionless.

               A monk nearby said, "Upper-Seat Ding, why don't you bow ceremonially?"

            Ding just then bowed ceremonially and suddenly had a great awakening.

 

Case 33  Zifu's One Circle

 

               Raised: The high official Chencao called on Zifu.

        Fu saw him coming then drew the appearance of one circle.

               Cao said, "Your disciple comes in this way, before is or is not manifests plainly, why still more in this situation do you draw the appearance of one circle?

               Fu then shut and withdrew behind the door of his "ten-foot-square" (i.e., the abbot's room).

               Xuedou said, "Chencao only possessed the one single eye."

 

Case 34  Yangshan Hiking on the Mountain