Dungshan Flips the Bird

I’ve continued to enjoy browsing for perspectives on the path of the bird. William Powell in The Record of Tung-shan (whom I have as “Dungshan” below) notes that the bird path is a frequent metaphor in Buddhist literature from the Dhammapada to the various Perfection of Wisdom Sutras.

Here’s Dhammpada, Verse 7:
“For one who has completed the journey, for one who is sorrowless, for one who from everything is wholly free, for one who has destroyed all Ties, the fever (of passion) exists not.

“The mindful exert themselves. To no abode are they attached. Like swans that quit their pools, home after home they abandon (and go).

“They for whom there is no accumulation, (of kammic activities or the four necessities of life) who reflect well over their food, who has Deliverance, which is Empty and Signless, as their object – their course like that of birds in the air cannot be traced.”

The Record of Dungshan has the following dialogue in #94, p. 55:
A monk asked, “The master normally tells us to follow the bird path. I wonder what the bird path is?”
“One does not encounter a single person.” replied Dungshan.
“How does one follow such a path?” asked the monk.
“One should go without hemp sandals on one’s feet,” replied Dungshan. (note: “hemp” and “self” are homonyms and so the sentence could also read “One should go without the self underfoot” – later versions follow this reading)
“If one follows the bird path, isn’t that seeing one’s original face?” asked the monk.
“Why do you turn things upside down so? asked Dungshan.
“But where have I turned things upside down?” asked the monk.
“If you haven’t turned things upside down, then why do you regard the slave as the master?” replied Dungshan.
“What is one’s original face?” asked the monk.
“Not to follow the bird path,” responded Dungshan.