大慧普覺禪師宗門武庫 1.44

1.44

宣州興教坦禪師，溫州牛氏子，世業打銀，因磨洗銀瓶次忽有省，遂出家受具遊方，為瑯瑘廣照之嗣。懷禪師住興教，坦為第一座，及懷受別請，欲舉坦繼住持，時刁景純守宛陵，懷恐刁涉外議，乃於觀音前祝曰：「若坦首座道眼明白堪任住持，願示夢於刁學士。」刁夜夢牛在興教法座上。懷凌晨辭州，刁舉夜所夢，懷大笑，刁問其故，懷曰：「坦首座姓牛又屬牛。」刁就座出帖請之，坦受請陞座，有雪竇化主省宗，出問：「諸佛未出世，人人鼻孔遼天，出世後為什麼杳無消息？」坦云：「雞足峯前風悄然。」宗云：「未在更道。」坦云：「大雪滿長安。」宗云：「誰人知此意，令我憶南泉。」拂袖歸眾，更不禮拜，坦云：「新興教今日失利。」便歸方丈。坦令人請宗至云：「適來錯祇對一轉語，人天眾前何不禮拜蓋覆却。」宗云：「大丈夫膝下有黃金，爭肯禮拜無眼長老。」坦云：「我別有語在。」宗乃理前語，至未在更道處，坦云：「我有三十棒，寄爾打雪竇。」宗乃禮拜。

Chan Master Xingjiao Tan of Xuanzhou was a son of the Niu clan of Wenzhou. For generations his family engaged in silversmithing. Once while polishing a silver vase he suddenly had an awakening; thereupon he left home, received the full precepts, and wandered on pilgrimage, becoming an heir of Langya Guangzhao. When Master Huai resided at Xingjiao, Tan served as the head monk. When Huai accepted another invitation, he wished to recommend Tan to succeed him as abbot. At that time Diao Jingchun was prefect of Wanling; Huai feared Diao might be swayed by outside opinions, so he prayed before Avalokiteśvara: "If Head Monk Tan's eye of the Way is clear and he is worthy of the abbacy, may a dream be shown to Academician Diao." That night Diao dreamed of an ox sitting upon the Dharma seat at Xingjiao. At dawn Huai came to take leave of the prefecture, and Diao recounted his dream of the night. Huai laughed heartily. Diao asked the reason, and Huai said, "Head Monk Tan's surname is Niu [Ox], and he was also born in the year of the Ox." Diao stepped to his seat, brought out an invitation, and requested him. Tan accepted the invitation and ascended the seat. There was a fund-raising monk of Xuedou named Shengzong who came forward and asked, "Before the buddhas appeared in the world, everyone's nostrils pointed up to the heavens. Why is it that after they appeared in the world there was no news at all?" Tan said, "In front of Cock's Foot Peak, the wind is silent." Zong said, "Not yet! Say more." Tan said, "Heavy snow fills Chang'an." Zong said, "Who understands this intention? It makes me remember Nanchuan." Shaking his sleeves, he returned to the assembly without even bowing. Tan said, "The new [abbot of] Xingjiao has suffered a defeat today," and returned to the abbot's quarters. Tan sent someone to invite Zong to come, and said, "Just now I mistakenly answered a turning word; before the assembly of humans and devas, why did you not bow down to cover it up?" Zong said, "A great man has gold beneath his knees; how could he be willing to bow down to an eyeless elder?" Tan said, "I have another phrase." Zong then reviewed the previous words, and when they reached the part "Not yet! Say more," Tan said, "I have thirty blows to send with you to strike Xuedou!" Zong then bowed down.