景德傳燈錄 12.38

12.38

睦州刺史陳操與僧齋次。拈起餬餅問僧。江西湖南還有遮箇麼僧曰。尚書適來喫什麼。陳曰。敲鍾謝響。又一日齋僧次躬行餅。僧展手接。陳乃縮手。僧無語。陳曰。果然果然。異日問僧曰。有箇事與上坐商量得麼。僧曰。合取狗口。陳自摑曰。操罪過。僧曰。知過必改。陳曰。恁麼即乞上坐口喫飯。又齋僧自行食次曰。上坐施食。上坐曰。三德六味。陳曰錯。上坐無對。又與寮屬登樓次。有數僧行來。一官人曰。來者總是行脚僧。陳曰。不是。曰焉知不是。陳曰。待近與問相次。諸僧樓前行過。陳驀喚上坐。僧皆迴顧。陳謂諸官曰。不信道。又與禪者頌曰。

Chen Cao, Prefect of Muzhou, was having a meal with a monk. Holding up a pastry, he asked the monk, "Do Jiangxi and Hunan also have this?" The monk said, "What was the Minister eating just now?" Chen said, "Striking the bell to give thanks for the reverberation." Another day, while feeding monks, he personally served the pastries. A monk reached out his hand to receive one. Chen pulled his hand back. The monk had nothing to say. Chen said, "Indeed, indeed!" On another day, he asked a monk, "I have a matter to consult with the sthavira about, may I?" The monk said, "Shut your dog mouth!" Chen slapped his own face and said, "Cao's fault!" The monk said, "Knowing the fault, you must correct it." Chen said, "If so, then I beg the sthavira's mouth to eat food." Again, while feeding monks, he personally distributed food and said, "Sthavira, I give food." The sthavira said, "Three virtues and six flavors." Chen said, "Wrong." The sthavira had no reply. Again, while ascending a tower with his subordinate officers, several monks were walking by. One official said, "All those who come are traveling monks." Chen said, "They are not." The official said, "How do you know they are not?" Chen said, "Wait until they are close, and I will test them." As the monks passed in front of the tower, Chen abruptly called out, "Sthaviras!" The monks all turned their heads. Chen said to the officials, "Did I not tell you?" He also presented a verse to a Chan practitioner: