續傳燈錄 7.30

7.30

宣州興教院坦禪師。永嘉牛氏子。業打銀。因淬礪瓶器有省。即出家參琅邪機語頓契。後依天衣懷禪師。時住興教。擢為第一座。衣受他請欲聞州乞師繼之。時刁景純學士守宛陵。衣恐刁涉外議。乃於觀音前祝曰。若坦首座。道眼明白堪任住持。願示夢於刁學士。刁夜夢牛在興教法座上。衣凌晨辭州。刁舉所夢。衣大笑。刁問其故。衣曰。坦首座姓牛又屬牛。刁就座出帖請之。師受請陞座。有雪竇化主省宗出問。諸佛未出世人人鼻孔遼天。出世後為甚麼杳無消息。師曰。雞足峯前風悄然。宗曰。未在更道。師曰。大雪滿長安。宗曰。誰人知此意令我憶南泉。拂袖歸眾更不禮拜。師曰。新興教今日失利。便歸方丈。令人請宗至。師曰。適來錯秖對一轉語。人天眾前何不禮拜蓋覆却。宗曰。大丈夫膝下有黃金。爭肯禮拜無眼長老。師曰。我別有語在。宗乃理前語。至未在更道處。師曰。我有三十棒寄爾打雪竇。宗乃禮拜。

Chan Master Tan of Xingjiao Cloister in Xuanzhou was a son of the Niu family of Yongjia. His trade was silversmithing. Through tempering and polishing bottles and vessels, he had an awakening. He then left home and studied under Langya, immediately chiming with his dynamic phrases. Later he relied on Chan Master Tianyi Huai, who was residing at Xingjiao at the time and promoted him to head monk. When Huai accepted another invitation, he wished to report to the prefecture to petition that the Master succeed him. At that time, Academician Diao Jingchun was prefect of Wanling. Huai feared that Diao might be swayed by outside opinions, so he prayed before Avalokiteśvara, saying, "If Head Monk Tan's eye of the Way is clear and he is capable of assuming the abbacy, may a dream be shown to Academician Diao." That night, Diao dreamed of an ox upon the Dharma seat at Xingjiao. At dawn Huai took leave of the prefecture, and Diao brought up what he had dreamed. Huai laughed heartily. Diao asked the reason, and Huai said, "Head Monk Tan's surname is Niu [Ox], and he was also born in the year of the Ox." Diao stepped to his seat, issued a letter of appointment, and invited him. The Master accepted the invitation and ascended the seat. Xingzong, the fundraiser for Xuedou, came forward and asked, "Before the buddhas appeared in the world, everyone's nostrils pointed high to the heavens; after they appeared in the world, why is there no news at all?" The Master said, "Before Cock's Foot Peak, the wind is silent." Zong said, "Not yet; speak further!" The Master said, "Heavy snow fills Chang'an." Zong said, "Who knows this meaning? It makes me recall Nanquan!" He flipped his sleeves and returned to the assembly, not bowing at all. The Master said, "The new Xingjiao has suffered a defeat today," and returned to the abbot's quarters. He sent someone to invite Zong to come. The Master said, "Just now I mistakenly answered with a turning word; why did you not bow before the assembly of humans and devas to cover it up?" Zong said, "Under a real man's knees there is gold; how could I be willing to bow to a blind elder?" The Master said, "I have other words." Zong then went over the previous words up to the point of "Not yet; speak further!" The Master said, "I have thirty blows of the stick to send with you to strike Xuedou." Zong then bowed.