法演禪師語錄 2.53

2.53

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.'"