직지심체요절 (Anthology of Great Buddhist Priests' Zen Teachings — World's Oldest Movable Metal Type, 1377)

Effort spent
From the Dharma-body

○ Chan Master Zhitong was in the assembly of Guizong. Suddenly, one night while patrolling the hall, he shouted, "I have had a great awakening!" The assembly was shocked. The next day, Guizong went to the hall, gathered the assembly, and asked, "The monk who had a great awakening yesterday, come forward." The Master went out and said, "Zhitong." Guizong said, "What principle did you see that you call a great awakening? Try to explain it to me." He replied, "The temple nun is originally a woman."

○ Chan Master Xinting was one day standing in attendance to the Fifth Patriarch. A monk from the Flower Adornment Huayan Avatamsaka school came to ask the Fifth Patriarch about "dependent origination within the true nature." The Patriarch was silent. The Master then said to him, "The great virtuous one, when the thought of asking first came to you, that was the dependent origination within the true nature." The monk was greatly enlightened upon hearing this.

Master Baoshou was one day in the market and saw two people arguing. One held the other by the arm and punched him in the face. The other said, "You are so shameless!" The Master was greatly enlightened at this.

He commented: "Do you know what it means to be shameless? The dragon sleeve is brushed aside, and the whole body is revealed."

Master Shenyan was one day visiting Xuefeng. Xuefeng knew he was familiar with the Way, so he suddenly got up, grabbed him, and said, "What is this?" The Master was suddenly awakened, and he forgot even the mind that had been awakened. He only raised his hands, shaking them. Xuefeng said, "Are you reasoning?" The Master said, "What reasoning is there?" Xuefeng then patted him and gave his seal.

○ Chan Master Lingyun Zhiqin was in the assembly of Weishan. Because he saw peach blossoms, he attained the Way and wrote this verse:
"For thirty years I have sought the swordsman,
How many times have the leaves fallen and the branches sprouted again?
Ever since I saw the peach blossoms,
Up to now, I have had no more doubts."

He reported this to Weishan. Weishan said, "Having awakened through conditions, you will never regress. Protect this well." original: "six"

Yangshan one day saw Xiangyan and asked, "How is your insight, Brother?" Xiangyan said, "Based on my insight, there is not a single thing that can occupy the mind." Yangshan said, "Your understanding is still attached to the object." Xiangyan said, "I am only like this. How about you, Brother?" Yangshan said, "How could you have no ability to know?"

Pointed to below
Twelve