法演禪師語錄 2.53

2.53

安樂院主修齋上堂云：「昨夜得一夢，夢見臻公在天宮與帝釋對坐，臻問帝釋曰：『天上有五衰相是否？』釋云：『此是佛之所說，豈可妄言。』於是帝釋却問臻云：『我聞閻浮提有不持戒者是否？』臻云：『此是佛之所說，豈可妄言。』良久臻云：『天宮雖樂，不是久居。』遂下十八重地獄，乃見閻王居正殿與地藏菩薩耳語，臻便出門首，見一青衣童鞠躬云：『東海龍王請伴諸羅漢齋。』臻遂往赴齋，迴得數顆如意珠，一時分付諸門人。白雲被珠光一爍，忽然夢覺，以至今朝諸法乳為臻公設齋，請白雲陞座。大眾且道，昨夜夢底是？適來說底是？眾中盡是久參先德禪道之精，若人辨得，試出來露箇消息看。有麼有麼？若無，白雲又有箇古話：釋迦老子在跋提河側般涅槃了，迦葉始至，遶金棺而哭，於是世尊為現雙趺。大眾且道，般涅槃時是？現雙趺時是？」乃云：「止止不須說，我法妙難思，諸增上慢者，聞必不敬信。」

At the feast hosted by the director of An'le Cloister, the Master ascended the hall and said, "Last night I had a dream. I dreamt I saw Master Zhen in the heavenly palace, sitting opposite Śakra. Zhen asked Śakra, 'Are there the five signs of decay in heaven, or not?' Śakra said, 'This is what the Buddha taught; how could it be false?' Thereupon Śakra asked Zhen in turn, 'I hear that in Jambudvīpa there are those who do not uphold the precepts; is that so?' Zhen said, 'This is what the Buddha taught; how could it be false?' After a long pause, Zhen said, 'Although the heavenly palace is delightful, it is not a place to dwell for long.' He then descended to the eighteen hells and saw King Yama sitting in the main hall, whispering in the ear of Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva. Zhen went out the front gate and saw a boy in blue, who bowed and said, 'The Dragon King of the Eastern Sea invites you to accompany the arhats for a meal.' Zhen then went to attend the meal and returned with several wish-fulfilling gems, which he distributed at once to his disciples. Baiyun was flashed by the light of the gems and suddenly woke from the dream. Thus, this morning the Dharma-offspring have set out a vegetarian feast for Master Zhen and invited Baiyun to ascend the seat. Assembly, tell me: was last night's dream real, or is what I just said real? In this assembly, all are longtime practitioners, elder paragons, the essence of the Chan Way. If anyone can distinguish it, let him come forward and reveal a sign of it! Is there anyone? Is there anyone? If not, Baiyun also has an ancient story: Old Man Śākyamuni entered parinirvāṇa beside the Bhadra River. Only then did Kāśyapa arrive, circling the golden coffin and weeping; thereupon the World-Honoured One manifested both feet for him. Assembly, tell me: was the moment of entering parinirvāṇa real, or was the moment of manifesting both feet real?" He then said: "'Stop, stop! There is no need to speak; / My Dharma is subtle and hard to fathom. / Those with overweening pride, / Hearing it, will certainly not revere or believe.'"