Text asking, as above, for an exposition of Seon同前請說禪文
宗乘密旨。雖離說而寂空。祖海深源。必待人而弘暢。敢敷危懇。請下微音。恭惟某禪師丈下。天資踈通。道韻澄朗。望高當世。想瞻天上之景星。化潤羣生。出作人間之時雨。某以妄庸之品。都宰輔之司。冒寵叨榮。心如臨谷。念時憂國。脇不沾床。尙乏廟謀。圖寧國體。唯託南宗無上之法。期臻東戶大平之時。爰罄三依。佇聞一話。伏望曲紆大度。俯循哀祈。廓宣衮衮之談。豁破懸懸之望。
The secret meaning of the school's gate leaves words and is still and empty; yet the deep source of the patriarchs' sea surely waits for a man to be spread abroad. I dare to set out my earnest heart and ask that you send down the subtle sound.
Respectfully I consider that the venerable Seon master So-and-so is of an inborn stuff that is clear and open, and the savor of his Way is bright and pure. His fame stands high in the age, so that it is like looking up at an auspicious star above the sky; and his teaching moistens all living things, so that he comes into the world and becomes timely rain.
I, So-and-so, of a reckless and mean nature, have taken on the seat of chief minister. Braving his favor and receiving glory beyond my station, my heart is uneasy as one standing at the edge of a deep ravine; thinking of the times and grieving for the state, my side does not reach the mat. Still lacking in counsel at court, I contrive a way to set the state's condition at peace. Only by taking refuge in the unsurpassed Law of the Southern school do I look to reach the peaceful times of the far past. And so I fulfill the threefold refuge (三歸依) and wait to hear a single word.
Prostrate, I pray that you bend your great magnanimity and follow this anguished request, spreading broadly your rolling words and clearly loosening this earnest wish.