大明高僧傳 6.37

6.37

釋仰安未詳何許人氏。頴異超群幼年舍俗。既圓顱頂慕最上乘。精謹律儀耽遊講肆。久而棄之遂入佛果勤公之室。時大溈泰為座。元昕夕扣之頓領玄旨。後泰住持德山。命安詣佛果通嗣法書。果見問。千里馳騁不辱宗風。公案現成如何通信。安曰。覿面相呈更無回互。果曰。此是德山底。那個是上座底。曰豈有第二人。果曰。背後底。聻安即進書。果笑稱作家。次至僧堂前捧書問訊首座。座曰。玄沙白紙此自何來。安曰。久默斯要不務速說。今日拜呈。幸希一覽。座便喝。安曰。作家首座。座又喝。安以書便打。座擬議。安曰。未明三八九。不免自沈吟。又打一下曰。接時佛果佛眼同見。果曰。打我首座死了也眼曰。官馬廝踢有甚憑據。安曰。說甚官馬廝踢。正是龍象蹴踏也。果喚安至前曰。我五百人首座。汝為何打他。安曰和尚也須喫一頓。果顧佛眼吐舌。眼曰。未在却問曰。空手把鋤頭話意作麼生。安鞠躬曰。所供並是詣實。眼笑曰。元來是屋裏人。又往五祖山通書於表自和尚。自曰。書裏說箇甚麼。安曰。文彩已彰。曰畢竟說甚麼。安曰。當陽揮寶劍。自喚曰。近前來我這裏不識幾箇子。安曰。莫詐敗好。自顧侍者曰。是那裏僧。曰曾在和尚會下去。自曰。怪得恁麼活頭。安曰。被和尚鈍置來。自將書於香爐熏曰。南無三曼多。安近前彈指。自便開書。自是聲播四方。而不屈為泰使命。未幾出主靈巖衲子輻輳拈椎竪拂大有古人之風焉。

Śramaṇa Yang'an—it is not known where he was from. He was extraordinarily talented, surpassing the crowd, and left the secular world at an early age. Once he had rounded his pate, he aspired to the Supreme Vehicle. He was meticulous and cautious with vinaya deportment, and indulged in frequenting lecture halls. After a long time, he abandoned them and thereupon entered the room of Master Foguoyuan Qin. At that time, Dawei Tai was the seat-leader; dawn and dusk, An inquired of him and suddenly grasped the profound purport. Later, Tai served as abbot at Deshan and instructed An to go to Foguo to deliver his letter of dharma succession. Foguo saw him and asked: “Galloping a thousand leagues without disgracing the ancestral style; the gongan is fully present—how do you convey the letter?” An said: “Presented face to face, there is no further mutual avoidance.” Foguo said: “This belongs to Deshan. Which is the elder's?” An said: “How could there be a second person?” Foguo said: “What about the one behind your back?” An immediately advanced the letter. Foguo laughed and praised him as an adept. Next, he arrived in front of the monks' hall, holding the letter to greet the head monk. The head monk said: “Xuansha's blank paper—where does this come from?” An said: “Remaining silent about this essential for a long time, not hurrying to explain it; today I pay respects and present it, hoping you will take a look.” The head monk then gave a shout. An said: “An adept head monk!” The head monk shouted again. An immediately struck him with the letter. The head monk hesitated. An said: “Not having clarified the three, eight, and nine, you cannot avoid brooding over it.” He struck him once more and said: “When it was received, Foguo and Foyan witnessed it together.” Foguo said: “You have beaten my head monk to death!” Foyan said: “Official horses kicking each other—what evidence is there?” An said: “Why speak of official horses kicking each other? It is truly the trampling of dragons and elephants!” Foguo summoned An before him and said: “He is the head monk over my five hundred people. Why did you strike him?” An said: “The Venerable must also take a beating!” Foguo looked at Foyan and stuck out his tongue. Foyan said: “Not yet,” and then asked: “What is the meaning of the saying ‘Empty-handed, holding a hoe’?” An bowed and said: “What I state is all strictly true.” Foyan laughed and said: “So he is indeed a man of our house!” He also went to Mount Wuzu to deliver a letter to Venerable Biaoxi. Xi said: “What does the letter say?” An said: “The ornate design is already manifest.” Xi said: “Ultimately, what does it say?” An said: “Wielding the precious sword facing the sun.” Xi called out: “Come forward! Here I do not recognize a few characters.” An said: “Better not feign defeat!” Xi looked at his attendant and said: “Where is this monk from?” The attendant said: “He was once in the Venerable's assembly.” Xi said: “No wonder he has such a sharp head!” An said: “I was ruined by the Venerable.” Xi held the letter over the incense burner to smoke it, saying: “Namo samanta.” An came forward and snapped his fingers. Xi then opened the letter. From this, his renown spread throughout the four quarters, and he did not bring disgrace to Tai’s mission. Soon afterward, he came forth to preside over Lingyan. Patch-robed monks gathered like spokes at a hub; taking up the mallet and raising the fly-whisk, he had much of the style of the ancients.