虛堂和尚語錄 1.15

1.15

知府吳狀元蠲蘆租公據立石，上堂，拈主丈云：「黃面老漢末上遭他，向雪山深處，六年擡脚不起，自後三百六十餘會，說盡葛藤終是解洗不出。達磨大師自西天，歷十萬里水雲而至此土，故是不著便，無端信脚蹈著，枝葉轉生。誰知二千年後，累及興聖寺裏，籬坍壁倒，道絕人荒，幸而風雲際會，有力量人不施寸刃，削草除根，便見坐致太平高歌舜日。然雖如是，且道，有何憑據？」卓主丈：「公驗分明。」

On the occasion of Prefect Wu, the First Graduate, having a stone tablet erected for the official document exempting the reed tax, [the Master] ascended the hall, took up the staff, and said: 'The yellow-faced old fellow met with trouble right from the start; deep in the Snowy Mountains, for six years he could not lift his feet. Afterwards, at over three hundred and sixty assemblies, he spoke out entangling vines, but in the end could never wash them clear. Great Master Bodhidharma came to this land from the Western Heaven across a hundred thousand li of waters and clouds; that was already inconvenient, and for no reason he stepped forward and trod down, causing branches and leaves to sprout all the more. Who knew that two thousand years later, it would implicate Xingsheng Monastery, where fences collapsed and walls fell, the road was cut off and people were scarce? Fortunately, meeting with dragons and clouds, a powerful person without using an inch of blade cut down the grass and removed the roots, whereupon one sees the peaceful reign attained and sings the days of Shun. Although it is like this, tell me: what is the evidence?' Striking the staff: 'The official pass is distinctly clear.'