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

"...the entire body is revealed. The moment the six senses move, they are obstructed by clouds. If you try to cut off afflictions, you will only increase your illness. Seeking enlightenment is also deviant. If you follow conditions without attachment, birth, death, and nirvana extinction of illusion are like flowers in the sky."

Yunmen asked a monk: "'Bright, silent, and illuminating, it pervades the sands of the Ganges'—is this not the statement of Prime Minister Zhang Zhuo?" The monk said, "It is." The master said, "That is a failed statement."

Chan Master Xiangyan said: "Last year's poverty was not yet true poverty. This year's poverty is finally true poverty. Last year, I had a place to stick an awl; this year, I do not even have an awl." Yangshan said: "I acknowledge the Tathagata Zen Buddha-nature Zen, but you have not even dreamed of the Patriarchal Zen." Xiangyan said: "I have a subtle skill. If I look at him with a blink of an eye, and a person does not understand, I call a novice." Yangshan said: "I am pleased that you, elder brother, understand Patriarchal Zen."

Daowu, because a monk asked, "What is the Patriarchal Zen?" Daowu said: "Remotely recalling the third month in Jiangnan, where the partridge cries and a hundred flowers are fragrant." Private note: This single phrase contains color, sound, and language. This is what is meant by 'If you want to make a statement, one phrase contains three.' This is the same as the 'Cypress tree in the garden' in dealing with inquiries.

Zen Master Baiyun Duan said: "After realizing, you must meet a teacher to confirm it. If you do not meet a teacher, you are like a monkey without a tail. As soon as you show it, people will laugh. Deep faith in this path is found in fewer than one in ten thousand. It is truly pitiable, truly pitiable."

Zen Master Yuanwu Qin, while serving Wuzu Yan, happened to mention the Judicial Commissioner who returned his official seal and went back to Shu, passing through the mountains to ask for the Way. During the conversation, Wuzu asked: "Has the Commissioner ever read the 'Shao Yan' love poems? There are two lines quite close to Zen: 'Frequently calling to Little Yu is for no other reason than to have the beloved recognize the sound.'" The Commissioner replied, "I understand, I understand." Wuzu said, "Look at it carefully." Yuanwu asked: "Commissioner, do you understand when the master quotes the 'Shao Yan' poem?" Wuzu said: "He only recognized the sound." Yuanwu said: "The original text says, 'To have the beloved recognize the sound.' Since he has recognized the sound, why is it still not it?" Wuzu said: "A monk asked, 'What is the meaning of the Patriarch coming from the West?' I answered: 'The cypress tree in the garden.'" Yuanwu suddenly attained great enlightenment and rushed out to see... Directly hitting the bottom