明覺禪師語錄 2.78

2.78

One day during an informal assembly, he instructed the assembly, saying: "Subhūti sat in peaceful contemplation in a cave. The devas rained flowers down in praise. The Venerable said: 'Who is it raining down flowers in praise in the sky?' They said: 'I am Brahmā.' The Venerable said: 'Why do you offer praise?' The deva said: 'I revere the Venerable's skillful exposition of the perfection of wisdom (prajñāpāramitā).' The Venerable said: 'I have never spoken a single word on prajñā; why do you offer praise?' The deva said: 'The Venerable has nothing said, and I have nothing heard; no speech and no hearing is the true exposition of the perfection of wisdom.' Again, the earth shook and flowers rained down." The Master said: "Fleeing noise to seek a quiet place—in this world there has never been such a way! When he sat in peaceful contemplation in the cave, he was already smeared with mud by that crowd. Even more, that old fellow couldn't hold his ground and asked, 'Who is raining flowers in praise in the sky?'—already a failure was seen! 'I revere the Venerable's skillful exposition of the perfection of wisdom'—foul water poured right over his head. 'I have never spoken a single word on prajñā'—running into the weeds. 'The Venerable has nothing said, and I have nothing heard'—what good or bad does he know? If all were like this sort, where would there be a today?" The Master then called out to the great assembly: "Xuedou is fortunate to be a man of no affairs; what have you come here looking for?" Using his staff, he drove them all away at once.