法演禪師語錄 3.42

3.42

The special envoy Wenxiang from Simian arrived bearing a letter of Dharma transmission. The Master received the letter before the Dharma seat, held it up, and asked the special envoy: “This belongs to Simian; where is the Ācārya’s?” The envoy said: “The verification is right before your eyes.” The Master said: “I almost let it pass without asking.” Thereupon he ascended the seat and said: “A fine event is hard to encounter; why not come forth and sing in harmony together?” At that time a monk came forth and asked: “Shitou sending a letter was still a dull fellow; Xuansha’s blank paper was a vain talk of sharing the same style. What auspicious sign is brought from Simian?” The Master said: “When spring air arises, there is no hard ground.” He pressed on: “If so, then surging open a thousand leagues of waves, one penetrates the Patriarch’s barrier.” The Master said: “Truly there is none.” He pressed on: “It may be called: ‘After the yellow plums are ripe, no one recognizes them; / Only the one old master of Dongshan is acknowledged.’” The Master said: “There is still someone else.” He pressed on: “The Upādhyāya also should not doubt it.” The Master said: “You also fall behind the Ācārya.” He pressed on: “Take it that Simian has no gate; from where did the venerable Upādhyāya receive this news?” The Master said: “Where have you just come from?” The monk pointed to the eastern side and said: “This director of affairs is so very black.” He also pointed to the western side and said: “This guest master is so very fat.” The Master said: “You must not point to the east and draw lines to the west.” The monk drew a line with his sitting mat and said: “This cannot be called east or west.” The Master said: “Look at you running around wildly.” He pressed on: “Upādhyāya, lower your voice, for fear people might hear.” The Master said: “Just now you were also slovenly not a little.” The monk slapped his own mouth with his hand and said: “I brought it upon myself.” The Master then said: “Assembly! The Elder of Simian has sent a letter; before the great assembly, it must be stated. A great lacquer tub of Simian, Master Xiang shares half a tub; opened beneath White Lotus Peak, it stinks up my nostrils. And tell me, why is it like this? There is no place for you to catch your breath.”