法演禪師語錄 3.5

3.5

At the opening of the hall in Huangmei, when the prefect presented the statement, the Master held it up, showed it to the assembly, and said: "Do you see? The rarest treasures and extraordinary gems are all within it. If you do not see them, I invite the reciter to hold it out before the assembly." After the reading of the statement was concluded, he said: "If we were to disperse just like this, it would already be making too much trouble. If you do not believe it—" He then pointed to the Dharma seat and said: "In a moment, upon its top, sand and dirt will be scattered!" He then ascended the seat. Having concluded the offering of incense with prayers for the Emperor, he took up another stick of incense and said: "This stick of incense: for twenty-seven years in Shu Prefecture, I have presided over three monasteries, as all of you know." He was about to burn it, but then added: "It will not do; I must speak it plainly. For fifteen years I went on pilgrimage. First, I studied with Upādhyāya Qian and obtained his hair; next, I visited eminent masters throughout the four seas and obtained their skin; then I reached the venerable Fushan Yuanjian and obtained his bones; later, with Upādhyāya Baiyun Duan, I obtained his marrow. Only then did I dare take it upon myself to become a teacher to others. Today, I burn it in the censer: let it smoke through the heavens and scorch the earth; let whoever has ears discern it!" The Upādhyāya of Sizu struck the gavel and said: "The assembly of dragons and elephants at this Dharma banquet should contemplate the paramārtha!" The Master said: "'Should contemplate the paramārtha'—the precious sword's frosty edge is sharp. A flash of lightning separates three thousand [worlds]; supreme, it has no peer or parallel. With discerning eyes and skilled hands, come forth and test yourselves against me!" A monk asked: "An old shop newly opened arrays precious gems; each time they are picked up, each time they are fresh. Now that the Master occupies the seat of Lu Neng, how indeed do you wipe away the dust of the mirror?" The Master said: "In the morning arriving at the Western Heavens, in the evening returning to the land of Tang." The monk advanced and said: "Having obtained Xuanyuan to discern the truth, the numinous light from this point shines through the sands of the Ganges." The Master said: "What was the very first phrase?" The monk said: "Not shirking the long mountain road, even treading snow one must cross." The Master said: "You are still drunk." A monk asked: "At the single assembly on Numinous Mountain, Kāśyapa heard it personally; I wonder who gets to hear it at today's single assembly?" The Master said: "No different from Numinous Mountain." The monk advanced and said: "Those of ancient and modern times are all attuned listeners." The Master said: "What about the phrase of an attuned listener?" The monk said: "Nodding the head without sticking out the tongue." The Master said: "No one is more reckless than you." The monk said: "What if one suddenly encounters a dragon grabbing clouds and clutching mist?" The Master said: "This old monk beats the retreat drum." He then said: "Just now my Dharma Uncle from Sizu struck the gavel and said, 'Should contemplate the paramārtha.' But as for the paramārtha, how is it to be contemplated? Do you want to understand? If not for the paramārtha, what would all the Buddhas of the three periods use to transform and save sentient beings? If not for the paramārtha, what would the twenty-eight [patriarchs] of the Western Heavens, the six of the land of Tang, and the venerable old masters throughout the world use to establish their lineage style? If not for the paramārtha, what would the current Sagely Emperor use to govern the world? If not for the paramārtha, what would the prefect, the scholars, the county magistrate, the pacification commissioner, and all the venerable officials seated here use to be parents to the people? And down to the donors here in the assembly, if not for the paramārtha, what would they use to venerate the Three Jewels? Yet, although this is so, each and every one of you must personally awaken to it for it to count."