Zen Poetry Appreciation: The Sharpened Blade Must Still Be Honed

Verse on Dharma Transmission

[Tang] Chan Master Linji Yixuan

Ceaselessly flowing — when asked, what then?

Boundless true illumination — I can only point toward it.

Beyond form, beyond name — no one takes it up.

The razor-sharp blade, once used, must at once be honed.

Chan Master Linji Yixuan (789–867) was the founding patriarch of the Linji school. From a young age he harbored a longing to leave worldly life behind. After taking the tonsure and receiving full monastic precepts, he became thoroughly versed in the sutras and treatises, and deeply studied the Vinaya. He first sought instruction under Huangbo Xiyun, then visited Da'an Dayu of Gao'an, attaining great awakening on the spot. He returned to Huangbo and received his seal of approval. Thereafter he traveled widely as a wandering monk, crossing swords with the great elders of his day. The monastic community had a saying: "When Linji roamed the land, his presence swallowed up every quarter." His methods for guiding students included the "Three Mysteries and Three Essentials," the "Fourfold Discernment," the "Four Host-Guest Relationships," and the "Fourfold Illumination and Function" — his teaching encounters were fierce, piercing, and vibrant. Linji founded what would become the most distinguished and flourishing school in Chan history, and one of the dominant lineages of Chan and Zen in both China and Japan. After the Master passed away, he was posthumously honored with the imperial title "Master Huizhao."

"Ceaselessly flowing — when asked, what then?" What is meant by "ceaselessly flowing"? It is the stream of birth and death, turning endlessly on — encompassing both the flow of thought from moment to moment and the flow of life from one existence to the next. If someone asks about this ceaseless flow, how should one respond? "Boundless true illumination — I can only point toward it." The true nature of Suchness is unchanging yet accords with conditions; its illuminating function is boundless. Even as thoughts flow on without cease, nothing hinders the perfect interpenetration of all dharmas — everywhere, all is Thus.

"Beyond form, beyond name — no one takes it up." The ultimate step beyond — free from the marks of speech, written words, and conceptual thought — how could this ever be fathomed by ordinary understanding! "The razor-sharp blade, once used, must at once be honed." The World-Honored One holding up a flower, Linji's four shouts — all the teachings and words of the patriarchs, all their skillful devices and expedient means, exist solely to liberate beings. None of them should be grasped as solid and real. If one takes them as real, they become a "dull blade" — mere delusion, inversion, and attachment. So after wielding the sharp sword, one must hone it again; having reached the other shore, one should abandon the raft. In the realm of ultimate truth, not a single dharma can be obtained; yet among the myriad phenomena, one may freely take up any dharma as an expression of the Way. If one clings to a single flower or a single blow of the patriarchs, to a single cup of tea or a single cake, not only does this vainly multiply delusive thoughts, but the sword that gives life turns into the sword that kills — what a needless tragedy that would be!