山陰錢伯子。持 達觀大師小影。索予為贊。時予正病劇。抽思未能。信口作禪語貽之。
呵呵呵。這就是達觀。昔日鬚𩯭猶存。今日眉毛不換。相對依然。慈容悲願。人傳此老。示寂圜中。却在這上頭。舒來卷去。一從方便。欲識師真。於此窺他顏面。雖然也祇得一半。若欲全彰。連這焚却。方得相見。何以故。 大明國內。著不得這漢。
予晤師在癸巳歲。金陵賀氏園中。為駕部郎時。乃予請見。固有年矣。憶先於比部瞿洞觀。太常傅太恒二君。共介其徒以往。到而復却。凡幾度筞馬空歸。二君遂不復言求見。而予意未已。至是晤焉。師鬚𩯭不剪。頂著樵巾。體幹豐偉。坐立如山。晦翁所謂其人皆魁岸雄傑者是已。相見慈容滿面。權然如故。室中有數輩儒衣冠者。握筆沈思。肅如試舉。予坐定。侍者設席予前。具筆伸紙。予問故。曰請與諸子。同作棱嚴經中某四句講義。或偈亦可。予唯然受之不為異。隨與大師論他義。一二轉未竟。師輒呼侍者曰。周老先生面前紙筆徹過。又論一二轉。師曰。硬掙也硬掙。頃之。侍者持客刺來報。乃鴻臚覺齋徐公。一徒起曰。老師今日體倦。徐公見。可俟他時。某請回之。便欲趨出。師曰不可。到即請見。徐公向日與予求見師。知不可得。每偵予所至。則尾之。故今刺得入。以予有人在門。刺得至師前。以予有人在室。其徒請命。以予在座。不然。恐師皆無由知矣。是日與徐公共午齋而散。明日天始辨色。街鮮人行。乃余衙有叩門者。詢之為師二徒。余出迓。言大師且來謁。少選手持拄杖。濶步長趨。數徒擁掖而至。盤桓至暮始別。時從行有周叔宗。賀知忍。餘名氏已忘。從行者曰。大師從未謁人。以是施君。異數也。余竊歎是時胸中尚未盡穩。商量不得徹底。嗣後欲載證無緣。可恨人言師奇恠。余具覩如此。奇耶易耶。凡初見作難意。皆諸徒所為。予以目擊徐公一節可推。雖然。即師何病。世界不寬。時人眼孔不大。竟莫容此老。或以其入都門為病。而悲願深遠。殆不可測。余為錢子題贊詞。更為敘相見始末。且更噓唏及此云。
I first met the Master in the year Guisi, in the garden of the He family in Jinling. At that time, I was serving as an official in the Ministry of War, and I had already sought an audience with him for years. I recall earlier, through the introduction of two gentlemen—Qu Dongguan from the Ministry of Justice and Fu Taiheng from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices—I went with their disciples to see him. Yet, upon arrival, I was turned away. Several times I rode back with an empty heart, and the two gentlemen no longer spoke of seeking an audience. But my determination remained unshaken, and finally, I met him.
The Master’s beard and hair were untrimmed, and he wore a simple cloth cap on his head. His stature was robust and imposing, sitting or standing like a mountain—truly what Zhu Xi described as “a person of majestic and heroic bearing.” When we met, his face was full of compassion, gentle as ever. In the room were several scholars in Confucian attire, pens in hand, deep in thought, solemn as if taking an imperial examination. After I sat down, an attendant set a desk before me, with brush and paper prepared. I asked why, and was told, “Please join these students in composing an explanation or a verse on a certain four-line passage from the *Shurangama Sutra*.” I accepted without surprise and began discussing other topics with the Master. Before we had exchanged a few words, the Master called to the attendant, “Remove the paper and brush from before Elder Zhou.” After a few more exchanges, the Master said, “Stubborn indeed, stubborn.”
Shortly after, an attendant brought in a visitor’s card, announcing the arrival of Lord Xu Juezhai from the Court of State Ceremonial. One disciple stood and said, “The Master is tired today. Lord Xu may visit another time. I will send him away.” He was about to leave when the Master said, “No, invite him in as soon as he arrives.” Lord Xu had previously sought to meet the Master with me, knowing it was difficult. Whenever he learned of my whereabouts, he would follow. Thus, his card was admitted because I was at the gate, and it reached the Master because I was in the room. The disciple’s request was made because I was present. Otherwise, the Master might never have known. That day, I shared the midday meal with Lord Xu before parting.
The next day, as dawn barely broke and the streets were still empty, someone knocked at my office gate. Inquiring, I found it was two of the Master’s disciples. I went out to greet them, and they said the Master was coming to visit. Soon, holding a walking staff, he strode boldly forward, surrounded by several disciples. He stayed until evening before leaving. Among those accompanying him were Zhou Shuzong and He Zhiren—I have forgotten the others’ names. Those with him said, “The Master has never visited anyone before. This is an extraordinary gesture for you, sir.” I secretly sighed that at that time, my mind was not yet fully settled, and our discussion did not reach the depths. Afterward, I wished to seek further confirmation but found no opportunity. It is regrettable that people say the Master is eccentric. What I witnessed was like this—was it strange or ordinary? The initial difficulties in meeting him were all due to his disciples, as I inferred from the incident with Lord Xu. Yet, what fault lies with the Master? The world is narrow, and people’s vision is limited—unable to accommodate this elder. Some criticize him for entering the capital, but his compassionate vows run deep and are beyond measure. I wrote an inscription for Master Qian and now recount the details of our meeting, sighing over this matter as well.
丙午臘八日剡城周汝登伏塊敬書