大慧普覺禪師宗門武庫 1.30

1.30

洪州奉新縣慧安院門臨道左，衲子往還黃龍、泐潭、洞山、黃蘗無不經由。偶法席久虛，太守移書寶峯真淨禪師，命擇人主之，頭首知事耆宿輩皆憚其行。時有淵首座，向北人，孤硬自立，參晦堂真淨，實有契悟處，泯泯與眾作息，人無知者。聞頭首知事推免不肯應命，白真淨曰：「惠淵去得否？」真淨曰：「汝去得。」遂復書舉淵，淵得公文即辭去。時湛堂為座元，問淵曰：「公去如何住持？」淵曰：「某無福，當與一切人結緣，自負栲栳打街供眾。」湛堂曰：「須是老兄始得。」遂作頌餞之曰：「師入新吳，誘携群有，且收驢脚，先展佛手。指點是非，分張好醜，秉殺活劍，作師子吼，應群生機，解布袋口。擬向東北西南，直教珠回玉走，咸令昧已之流，頓出無明窠臼。阿呵呵！見三下三，三三如九，祖祖相傳，佛佛授手。」淵住慧安逐日打化，遇暫到，即請歸院中歇泊，容某歸來修供。如此三十年風雨不易。鼎新剏佛殿輪藏羅漢堂，凡叢林所宜有者，咸修備焉。黃龍死心禪師訪之，淵曰：「新長老，汝常愛使沒意智一著子該抹人，今夜且留此，待與公理會些細大法門。」新憚之，謂侍者曰：「這漢是真箇會底，不能與他𠢐牙劈齒得，不若去休。」不宿而行。淵終於慧安，闍維後六根不壞者三，獲舍利無數，異香滿室累月不絕。奉新兵火殘破無孑遺，獨慧安諸殿嶷然獨存，豈非願力成就神物護持耶？今諸方袖手領現成受用者，聞淵之風得不媿於心乎。

The gate of the Hui'an Cloister in Fengxin County, Hongzhou, bordered the left side of the road; patch-robed monks traveling to and from Huanglong, Letan, Dongshan, and Huangbo all passed through it. By chance, the dharma seat had long been vacant, and the prefect sent a letter to Chan Master Zhenjing of Baofeng, instructing him to choose someone to preside over it; the senior monks, monastic officers, and elders were all daunted by the prospect of going. At that time there was Head Monk Yuan, a northerner, who was solitary, resolute, and independent. He had studied with Huitang and Zhenjing and genuinely had an area of realization, yet he mingled with the assembly in their daily routine, unrecognized by anyone. Hearing that the senior monks and officers were declining and unwilling to answer the call, he addressed Zhenjing, saying, 'Can Huiyuan go?' Zhenjing said, 'You can go.' He then replied to the letter, recommending Yuan. As soon as Yuan received the official document, he took his leave. At that time Zhantang was the head of the assembly, and asked Yuan, 'When you go, how will you act as abbot?' Yuan said, 'I lack merit; I must forge karmic affinities with all people, carrying a basket on my back and walking the streets to provide for the assembly.' Zhantang said, 'It must be an elder brother like you to manage it.' He then composed a verse to see him off, saying: 'The master enters Xinxin to guide and gather all beings; / For now draw in the donkey's foot, first extend the buddha's hand. / Pointing out right and wrong, distinguishing the fine and the foul; / Wielding the sword that kills and gives life, roaring the lion's roar; / Responding to the capacities of all beings, undoing the cloth bag's mouth. / Moving northeast, southwest, setting pearls rolling and jades turning; / Causing those who are blind to themselves to suddenly leap from the rut of ignorance. / Aha! Seeing three, deduct three; three times three makes nine. / Patriarchs transmit to patriarchs, buddhas hand it down to buddhas.' Yuan stayed at Hui'an, begging every day. When he encountered transients, he would invite them to rest at the cloister, saying, 'Allow me to return and prepare offerings.' Thus for thirty years, through wind and rain, he never changed. He newly founded a buddha hall, a revolving canon library, an arhat hall—whatever a monastic grove ought to have, all were completely provided. When Chan Master Sixin of Huanglong visited him, Yuan said, 'New Elder, you always like to use that thoughtless move to sweep people away; stay here tonight, and let me go over some fine points of the great dharma gate with you.' Sixin was intimidated by him and said to his attendant, 'This fellow truly understands; I cannot lock teeth and spar words with him; better to leave.' Without staying the night, he departed. Yuan passed away at Hui'an; after his cremation, three of his six sense organs were undamaged, countless relics were obtained, and a wondrous fragrance filled the room, unceasing for months. When Fengxin was devastated by war and fire, leaving nothing remaining, Hui'an's halls alone stood towering intact. Was this not the fulfillment of his vow power and the protection of divine spirits? Nowadays, when those in various quarters fold their hands and enjoy ready-made provisions hear of Yuan's style, how could they not feel ashamed in their hearts?