17.置身岩穴潛修 Settling in a cliff cave and cultivating in seclusion

置身岩穴潛修

是時公父在泉州。遣多人到處尋訪。富國自受戒後即束裝就道。行腳參方不知其蹤跡。而公則放下身心隱居後山。人跡罕至。虎狼時出深山窮谷岩穴洞中。饑食樹毛松子。渴飲清泉溪水。

宣化偈曰： 岩穴苦修耐歲寒。謀道忘食衣不全。 虎狼同游為法護。萬佛寶懺拜三千。

Settling in a cliff cave and cultivating in seclusion

At that time, the Master’s father at his home in Ch’uan Chou enjoined a number of men to search for the Master. After receiving the precepts, Fu Kuo packed up and began his explorative journey on foot. It is not known where he went in his travels for study. The Master had put down his body and mind and sequestered himself on the back side of a mountain. The people who came to see him were few indeed; however, there were tigers and wolves who came from deep in the mountains and valleys to the caves on the cliff. The Master ate pine nuts when hungry, and when thirsty drank pure spring water.

The verse says: Ascetic cultivation in a cave on a cliff, he endured the years of cold. For the sake of the Way, he neglected eating; his robes were ragged and torn. Tigers and wolves came to his side and protected the Dharma for him. He bowed the Ten Thousand Buddhas’ Repentance three thousand times.