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

When there was no one else, I spoke to you. The Master stood for a long time and said, "There is no one. Please, Master, speak." [He] stepped down from the Zen couch and led the Master into the bamboo grove. The Master again said, "There is no one. Please, Master, speak." [He] pointed slightly to the bamboo and said, "How did this one get to be so long, and how did that one get to be so short?" The Master was enlightened at these words.

○ Chan Master Gaoting Jian, at first separated by a river, saw Deshan from afar. He pressed his palms together and shouted, "I do not understand!" Deshan gestured with his fan. The Master was suddenly enlightened, then hurried away and did not look back.

○ Yunyan asked a monk, "What is the scripture you are reciting?" [The monk] replied, "The Vimalakirti Sutra." The Master said, "I do not ask what scripture you are reciting, I ask what is the one who is reciting?" The monk was able to enter through this.

○ When Yunju was staying in a hut at Three Peaks, Dongshan, he did not go to the hall for meals for many days. Dongshan asked, "Why do you not come to the hall for meals?" The Master said, "Every day, a heavenly spirit brings food." Dongshan said, "I thought you were a man, yet you still have this view." That evening, he went up. The Master arrived late. Dongshan called out, "Ying, the shramana monk!" The Master responded. Dongshan said, "To not think of good, to..."

"not be able to satisfy hunger," and then burned it. He then performed bows. The Master.

○ Chan Master Dongshan Liangjie asked Master Yunyan, "A hundred years after you, if someone asks, 'Can you portray the true likeness of the Master?', how should I reply?" Yunyan was silent for a long time and said, "Just this." The Master was lost in thought. Yunyan said, "To undertake this matter, you must be very precise." The Master still had doubts. Later, when crossing a stream and seeing his reflection, he was greatly enlightened to the previous meaning. He then had this verse: "Absolutely do not seek it from others, or you will be far removed from yourself. Now I go on alone, and everywhere I meet it. It is me, yet I am not it. I am now exactly it. You must understand in this way to attain the tathata suchness."

○ Dongshan asked a monk, "In this world, what thing is the most painful?" The monk said, "Hell is the most painful." The Master said, "It is not so. Not understanding the Great Matter beneath this robe and thread—that is the most painful."

○ Chan Master Lingzun asked Cuiwei, "What is the true meaning of the Patriarch’s coming from the West?" Cuiwei said, "Wait..."