虛堂和尚語錄 9.64

9.64

Ascending the hall, he cited: "When Shushan was building his longevity stupa, the administrative monk reported, 'How much coin should we give the craftsman?' Shushan said, 'Is it better to give the craftsman three coins? Is it better to give the craftsman two coins? Or is it better to give the craftsman one coin? If you can speak, build the longevity stupa for me in person.' The monk was bewildered. Later, a monk cited this to Daling. Daling said, 'Was there anyone who could say something?' The monk said, 'No one has yet been able to say.' Daling said, 'Go back and cite it to the upādhyāya: if you give the craftsman three coins, in this life you will definitely not obtain a stupa; if you give the craftsman two coins, you and the craftsman will put forth a single hand together; if you give the craftsman one coin, you will implicate the craftsman so that his eyebrows and beard fall off.' The monk returned and cited it to Shushan. Shushan bowed and said, 'Daling, the ancient Buddha, radiates light shining all the way to this place. Even so, it is still a lotus in the twelfth month.' When Daling heard this, he said, 'My speaking like that had already made turtle hair grow several feet long.'" The master brought this up and said: "The two great elders shaved iron from the tip of a needle intending to forge the Tai'e sword to slay buddhas and slay patriarchs, but alas, no one has yet nodded their head sideways. Jingshan's longevity stupa was built by Baoye, the Dharma heir of Jianyan in Kunshan; nor do I know its price. Tell me, how far is it from Daling the ancient Buddha's light shining all the way to this place?" Striking the staff: "If an old calendar can still be used, one avoids being reckoned on the fingertips of the patrol official."