眾護法請開堂疏
Opening Ceremony Invocation for the Dharma Protectors
伏諗宗門一路久矣線道不通日午打三更留黑白未分之消息連夜日頭出少常住不動之師承擬掃塵妖當宏利濟恭惟雪嶠大和尚猊座宗無所宗法本無法空中伸巨臂掐斷從上諸佛祖鼻梁身畔現韋䭾打屏五百比丘踪影古雲門三字見凡聖於一家爛豆渣半升闢艸萊乎雙髻呵斥諸方從無當意輕許可撈漉群趣不將佛法當人情語風提唱照地光天廬山開先懸崖峻壁七十五燈俱是火掌握薪傳百千三昧悉真空口吐血脉欽震旦之將登獨坐適福城之現缺主人伏祈大和尚小遊戲而飛錫肯來大踏步而折葦即至魔也打佛也打堂堂見性明心明頭來暗頭來的的攔胸劈面獅王出窟俾萬獸之潛形金翅分波使諸龍之斷命一切眾生胥擁戴十方賢聖悉依皈谷等臨啟曷勝企佇顒誠之至。
I have long reflected on the path of our tradition, yet the way remains blocked. At noon, the night bell tolls, leaving the mystery of black and white unresolved. By night, the sun rises—a rare inheritance of stillness. I seek to sweep away the demons of confusion and spread great compassion.
I humbly address the venerable Master Xueqiao, seated upon the lion's throne: The tradition has no tradition; the Dharma is fundamentally without Dharma. In the void, a great arm reaches out to pinch the noses of all Buddhas and patriarchs from the past. Beside him stands Weituo, striking down the shadows of five hundred monks. The ancient word "Yunmen" reveals saints and ordinary beings as one family. Half a measure of rotten bean dregs clears the overgrowth on Twin Peaks. He has scolded all quarters, never lightly praising, yet reeling in beings from every direction—never treating the Dharma as a social nicety. His words on the breeze lift up, illuminating earth and sky. At Lushan's Kaixian Temple, sheer cliffs rise steep. Seventy-five lamps are all fire; holding the torch, the lineage passes on. A thousand samadhis are utterly emptiness; words spill forth like blood, honoring the approaching dawn of China. Alone, seated, he sees the manifestation of Fucheng's patron.
I humbly pray: Great Master, may you deign to come, playfully tossing your staff, striding forth, breaking a reed to cross the waters. Hit demons! Hit Buddhas! See your nature clearly and awaken the mind, face to face. Whether coming in light or darkness, meet it directly—a palm to the chest, a slap to the face. The Lion King leaves its den, causing ten thousand beasts to hide; the Golden-Winged Garuda parts the waves, cutting off the lives of dragons. All beings embrace and revere; sages and saints everywhere take refuge.
As I write this, my heart overflows with longing, gazing upward in utmost sincerity.
崇禎十六年夏月禾城曹谷譚貞默朱茂時汪挺高承埏朱茂睭王起隆兩邑護法仝疏
In the summer of the sixteenth year of the Chongzhen reign, the devoted lay followers from the two cities—Tan Zhenmo, Zhu Maoshi, Wang Ting, Gao Chengyan, Zhu Maozhou, Wang Qilong, along with Cao Gu—jointly issued this declaration.