Here are nine examples of direct pointing by Linji (Rinzai) in the Record of Linji (Linji Lu/Rinzai Roku) [all my translations]:
1) "Upon the ball of red flesh there is one true person without rank. It perpetually goes in and goes out of the gates of the faces of you people of various classes. To those who have not yet borne witness, look, look.”
2) “Drifters of the Way, the Dharma of the mind is without form and passes unobstructed through the ten directions. In the eyes it is called seeing. In the ears it is called hearing. In the nose--smelling fragrance. In the mouth--discussing and debating. In the hands--grasping and seizing. In the feet--running around. At the root it is the one essential brightness; divided, it is the six harmonious unions (of the senses). As the One Mind is already without anything, the place of accord is liberation. Why does this mountain monk give explanations and where is the meaning? Only for Drifters of the Way, all running about seeking the mind unable to rest, to surmount the different functions and forms of the barriers of the people of old."
[Note: The audience salutation 道流 daoliu is difficult to translate and has a double entendre. I’m translating it as “Drifters of the Way” which somewhat maintains the double entendre, while most translators use “Followers of the Way.” The term 道流 daoliu is literally “Way–stream,” “Way-flow,” “the steam of the Way,” or “the drift of the Way,” which, when used as a salutation to address the audience members, means "You Who Are in the Stream of the Way" and can be translated as "Way Streaming Ones," “Way Streamers” or “Way Flow-ers” or “Streamers or Floaters in the Way,” etc. ]
3) Drifters of the Way, exactly now, the solitary brightness before the eyes is the one who is listening through and through. This person in every place is not hindered and moves unobstructed through the ten directions and three realms on their own. On entering every situation, differentiations are not able to turn around or divert one. In the space of a single thought-instant (ksana) one thoroughly enters the Dharma Realm. Running into a Buddha, one articulates to the Buddha. Running into an ancestor, one articulates to the ancestor. Running into an arhat, one articulates to the arhat. Running into a hungry ghost, one articulates to the hungry ghost. Turning everywhere to ramble and tread on the lands of the country, one teaches and converts the many beings, yet has not once been separate from a single thought. Accordingly, the pure and clean light penetrates the ten directions, and the myriad things (dharmas) are One Suchness.
4) "Turn back the light on yourselves and look!"
5) "Drifters of the Way, as you long to attain the Dharma of Suchness, only do not give birth to doubts. By expanding, consequently it pervades the entire Dharma Realm (Dharmadhatu). By contraction, consequently a strand of hair cannot be set up. All the way through, the solitary brightness has never in the past lacked a little. The eye does not see it; the ear does not hear it. What object can be aroused? A man of old said, “To articulate that it appears like a single object consequently is not on the mark.” You should only look into your own home. What more is there? Articulating is likewise without exhaustion. Each personally touches strength. Seriously cherish it."
6) “Drifters of the Way , only know the ancient previous virtuous ones themselves in all cases had fundamental ways of producing people. Know that this mountain monk’s pointing is to instruct people on this feature: you only must not let yourself be deluded by people. If it’s necessary to act, then act, furthermore have no delay or doubt."
7) "As this poor mountain monk sees the point, nothing is not extremely profound, nothing is not liberation (moksha)." [Note: Yes, double negatives to attend to.]
8) Question, “’The Buddha of 'Great Thorough-knowing Surpassing in Awareness' [Mahābhijñā-Jñānābhibhu] sat for ten kalpas in a dojo (arena of the Way). The Buddha Dharma did not manifest before [him], and [he] was not able to accomplish the Buddha Way.’ I don’t discern the meaning of this, so what is it? I beg the master to point and instruct.”
The master said, “That which is ‘Great Penetration’ is his own self penetrating everywhere into the naturelessness and marklessness of the ten thousand dharmas and is named as ‘Great Through-knowing.’
That which is ’Surpassing in Awareness’ in all places is not to doubt and is not to attain a single thing (dharma) and is named as ‘Surpassing in Awareness.’
That which is ’Buddha’ is the mind’s clear purity shining bright to permeate throughout the Dharma Realm, and is able to be named as ‘Buddha.’"
9) Because the Master was entering the army camp to attend the vegetarian banquet, he was at the main gate and saw a staff officer. The Master pointed to the bare post and asked, “Is it ordinary or is it sacred?”
The staff officer was speechless.
The Master hit the bare post and said, “Even if you were able to say, still it is only a wooden stick. ”
Then he went and entered.
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