法演禪師語錄 1.70

1.70

上堂云：「將四大海水為一枚硯，須彌山作一管筆，有人向虛空裏寫祖師西來意五字，太平下座大展坐具禮拜為師；若寫不得，佛法無靈驗。有麼有麼？」便下座，大眾散，師高聲云：「侍者。」侍者應喏，師云：「收取坐具。」復問侍者云：「還收得坐具麼？」侍者提起坐具，師云：「我早知儞恁麼也。」

Ascending the hall, he said, "Taking the waters of the four great oceans as an inkstone and Mount Sumeru as a brush, if someone were to write in empty space the five characters 'the Patriarch's intention in coming from the west', Taiping would step down from the seat, spread his sitting cloth widely, make prostrations, and take him as master. If he cannot write it, the Buddhadharma has no efficacy! Is there anyone? Is there anyone?" He then stepped down from the seat. As the assembly dispersed, the Master said in a loud voice, "Attendant!" The attendant responded, "Yes?" The Master said, "Take up the sitting cloth." He asked the attendant again, "Have you taken up the sitting cloth?" The attendant held up the sitting cloth. The Master said, "I knew all along you would do that."