佛祖歷代通載 18.71

18.71

（二十八）　春正月初五。慈明楚圓禪師示寂。出金州清湘李氏。少為書生。年二十二依城南湘山隱靜寺得度。母有賢行。使之遊方。公連眉秀目頎然豐碩。然忽繩墨。所至為老宿所呵。以為少叢林。公柴崖而笑曰。龍象蹴踏非驢所堪。甞槖骨董箱。以竹杖荷之。遊襄沔間。與守芝谷泉俱結伴入洛中。聞汾陽道望為天下冠。決志親依。時朝廷方問罪河東。潞澤皆屯重兵。多勸其無行。公不顧渡大河登太行。易服類廝養。竄名火隊中。露眠草宿。至龍州。遂造汾陽。昭公壯之。經二年未許入室。公詣昭揣其志。必罵詬使令者或毀詆諸方。及有所訓皆流俗鄙事。一夕訴曰。自至法席已再夏。不蒙指示。唯增世俗塵勞念。歲月飄忽己事不明。失出家之利。語未卒。昭公熱視罵曰。是惡知識敢裨販我。舉杖逐之。擬伸救。昭公掩其口。公大悟曰。乃知臨濟道出常情。服役七年辭去。依唐明嵩公。及往見大年楊內翰。又見李都尉。問答具本傳。後移住興化。沐浴辭眾跏趺而逝。閱世五十有四。坐夏三十有二。

(28) In spring, on the fifth day of the first month, Chan Master Ciming Chuyuan showed his nirviroṇa. He was from the Li clan of Qingxiang in Jinzhou. In his youth he was a Confucian student. At the age of twenty-two, he was ordained under Xiangshan Yinjing Monastery south of the city. His mother possessed virtuous conduct and sent him to wander on pilgrimage. The Master had joined eyebrows, elegant eyes, and a tall and imposing stature. However, he disregarded monastic conventions; wherever he went, the senior masters reprimanded him, considering him lacking in monastic decorum. The Master leaned against a wooden cliff and smiled, saying: “The trampling of dragons and elephants is not something a donkey can bear.” He used to pack an oddments box and carry it on a bamboo pole, traveling between Xiang and Mian. Together with Shouzhi and Guquan, he joined company and entered Luoyang. Hearing that Fenyang’s reputation in the Way stood highest in the realm, he resolved to personally rely on him. At that time, the imperial court was punishing the rebellious Hedong, and heavy troops were stationed in Lu and Ze; many urged him not to go. Disregarding this, the Master crossed the Yellow River and climbed the Taihang Mountains. Disguising his attire like that of a common servant, he hid his name among the army camp cooks, sleeping in the open and bedding on grass. Arriving at Longzhou, he went directly to Fenyang. Master Zhao marveled at his boldness. After two years had passed, he was still not permitted to enter the master's room. Whenever the Master visited Zhao to probe his intention, Zhao would inevitably scold the attendants or revile the masters of other quarters; and whenever he gave instructions, they were all base, worldly matters. One evening, the Master complained, saying: “Since arriving at your Dharma seat, two summers have already passed, yet I have received no instruction, only increasing my worldly defilements. The seasons pass fleetingly while my own matter remains unenlightened; I have lost the benefit of leaving home.” Before his words were finished, Master Zhao glared fiercely and scolded him: “You evil acquaintance! How dare you trade with me!” Raising his staff, he chased him. When the Master attempted to offer an explanation, Master Zhao covered his mouth. The Master was greatly enlightened and said: “Now I know that Linji’s Way transcends ordinary emotions!” He served him for seven years before taking his leave. He relied on Master Song of Tangming, and later went to visit Hanlin Academician Yang Danian, as well as Commandant Li. Their questions and answers are detailed in his main biography. Later he moved to dwell at Xinghua. Having bathed, he took leave of the assembly and passed away cross-legged. He lived fifty-four years and observed thirty-two summer retreats.