康居國會尊者像贊寄憨山大師(并序)
Portrait Eulogy of the Elder of Kanka Assembly, Sent to Master Hanshan
三國為英雄之聚。亦刀兵之聚。慈悲般若。無有入處。而康祖一錫浮江。三稱如來。兩目流血。舍利投瓶。光燦六合。澤緜千古。當是時也。吳之君臣。莫不為之動心變色。即事徵理。知有佛而不疑。六度既譯。安般門開。無擇黑白。得法眼淨。與夫禪思入微者。不可計算。皆我祖為之嚆矢也。憨山清大師。因弘法戍瘴海。善以慈心三昧。普使朽骨生春。聖華居士。聞風感慕。特寫祖影。寄上曹溪。以為大師影響。嗚呼。曹溪肉佛所現。自唐及宋。飲曹溪而得道者。代不乏人。邇來曹溪涸矣。寶林蕭然。又藉憨師以謫戍為波瀾。而曹源復活。庸祖分身。髑髏眼開。恒沙難喻。豈可以有思惟心。測其功悳淺深者哉。達觀道人。不解逆風把柁。但解順水推舟。為之讚曰。
The Three Kingdoms period was a convergence of heroes, but also a convergence of weapons. Compassion and wisdom found no place to enter. Yet Master Kang [Kang Senghui] floated his staff across the river, called on the Tathagata three times, blood flowed from both his eyes, relics dropped into the bottle, and light shone across the universe, with blessings extending for a thousand years. At that time, the rulers and ministers of Wu were all moved, their faces changing color. From that event they sought understanding of the principle, and knew of the Buddha without doubt. After the Six Paramitas were translated, the door of Anapana meditation opened. Whether noble or common, they attained the pure Dharma-eye, and those who entered into subtle meditation with a single mind were beyond counting. All of this was pioneered by our patriarch.
Master Hanshan Qing, because of his propagation of the Dharma, was exiled to the miasmic seas. Skilled in the samadhi of compassionate mind, he made even withered bones return to life. The Sagely Flower Layman, hearing of this, was moved with admiration and specially painted a portrait of the patriarch [Kang Senghui], sending it to Cao Brook, that it might serve as Master Hanshan's inspiration.
Alas! The living Buddha at Cao Brook had appeared. From the Tang through the Song dynasties, those who drank from Cao Brook and attained the Way have been many in each generation. Recently, Cao Brook had run dry; the Jewel Forest Monastery lie desolate. Then relying on Master Hanshan's exile, waters rose again, and the source of Cao Brook was revived. The patriarch [Kang Senghui] manifested his secondary body, the skull opened its eyes—a miracle beyond even countless grains of sand. How could this be measured by a thinking mind, or assessed in terms of shallow or deep merit?
The Daoist of Perfect Insight does not understand sailing against the wind, but only knows how to push the boat along with the current, and so offers this praise:
康祖來吳。清公謫粵。髑髏大師。金剛眼突。瘴海之慘。骨刺魂驚。大師得戍。彌感聖明。曹溪蠱毒。飲者皆喪。大師飲之。銷盡諸瘴。指撮舍利。康祖之貪。貪不為我。此心何慚。弘法得罪。命如單綫。千里瘴嶺。茫鞋踏遍。雷道岧嶤。颶風正高。缽瓶孤逝。舌相昭昭。南粵魍魎。白日鼓掌。我若無心。菩薩影響。有心之康。祖愚癡章。章甫適越。其誰不疑。石頭之別。肝膈冰冷。丁生吹火。寫康祖影。緣影得心。心亡性冥。大用無常。鐘以眼聽。根塵主客。收放夢醒。掌擎寶塔。牢山之頂。
Master Kang came to Wu. Master Qing was exiled to the south. The Skeleton Master’s diamond eyes bulged. The horrors of the miasmatic seas cut to the bone and stunned the soul. Yet the Master, upon receiving his sentence, felt even more grateful to the wise emperor. The poison of Caoxi kills all who drink it. The Master drank it, and all the plagues dissolved. He picked up relics with his fingers—Master Kang’s greed. But this greed was not for himself: how could such a heart feel shame? For spreading the Dharma, he was punished—his life hung by a single thread. For a thousand miles through the miasmatic peaks, he trod with straw sandals. The thunderous paths were steep and treacherous, the typhoons were at their height. Alone, his water flask disappeared; his tongue’s mark shone clearly. The southern monsters clapped their hands in broad daylight. If I have no mind, then the Bodhisattva is mere influence. But Kang had a mind—the chapter of the fool and the dullard. Selling hats in the land of the tattooed—who wouldn’t doubt it? The parting at Stone—his very liver and heart turned cold. Ding Sheng blew on the fire, painting Master Kang’s portrait. By tracing the image, we find the mind. With the mind gone, the nature fades. Great function is ever-changing—you hear the bell with your eyes. Senses and objects, host and guest—gathering and releasing, dream and awakening. He holds the jeweled pagoda in his palm, atop the summit of Lao Mountain.
達觀可道人撰
Written by the Venerable Daguan Kedaoren.