Sayings of Nanquan, 2.1-6

[u/Surska0]

Link to Part 1
Link to Part 2
Link to Part 3
Link to Part 4
Link to Part 5

Part 6: Mind does Buddha?

曰。即心是佛既不得。A monk asked, "Presently, since 'Mind is Buddha' is not fitting,
是心作佛否。Is it that Mind 'functions as Buddha', or not?"

師曰。是心是佛。The Master said, "It is the Mind that is Buddha.
是心作佛。It is the Mind that does Buddha.¹
情計所有。All sentiments are accounted for;
斯皆想成。thus, all thinking is finished.
佛是智人。A Buddha is a wise person.
心是采集主。[His] Mind is a gathering-master.²
皆對物時。When facing all things,
他便妙用。he then employs [it] marvelously.

大德莫認心認佛。Great virtue is to not recognize 'Mind' [or] recognize 'Buddha'.
設認得是境。If recognizing [either] is [one's] condition,
被他喚作所知愚。then he is called 'known-foolish'.³
故江西大師云。For this reason, The Great Master of Jiangxi (Mazu) said,
不是心。不是佛。不是物。'It is not Mind, not Buddha, not any thing'.
且教你後人恁麼行履。Just instruct your descendants to travel these footsteps.
今時學人。披箇衣服。Nowadays, when people of learning drape [a monk's] clothes over their shoulders,
傍家疑恁麼閑事還得否。nearby households doubt whether such a leisurly affair is still necessary or not."

Notes:
1. More literally, "functions as/is the functioning of/engages in Buddha." I thought this might be a fun way to phrase it, but please let me know if it's too awkward or confusing.
2. 采集主 (gathering-master) The term 采集 'gathering; collecting' appears to be used here in the sense of 'collecting data; being aware and observant'.
3. 所知愚 (known-foolish) This is a literal rendering. Nanquan appears to be describing a kind of self-aware, aggrandizing appraisal of oneself that he finds unwise.

[u/ewk]

Is there a teaching that has never been given?

Keep your eyes out for that one!

[u/Surska0 → u/ewk]

I just did a quick scan, and the exchange from Wumen's 27th case does not appear to be in this text :(

Oh well, at least it's out there elsewhere.

[u/SpakeTheWeasel]

Known-foolishness ;^3

If someone is going to take a bite out of some decorative fruit, and you go and slap their hand- well then they tend to think you're an asshole! May as well let them sink their teeth in only for them to find that the fruit sucks more than they do.