祖師的故事 - 菩提達摩祖師（中英‧圖文）

[北斗]

生死未了　惱羞成怒

達摩祖師說：「你教人了生死，生死怎麼了法？你所講的經，黑的是字，白的是紙，憑什麼教人了生死？你自己的生死了了沒有？」神光法師一聽，問得他也沒話說了，心想：「咦！這個印度人講話很特別的，大約是魔王所現吧？要不然，怎麼這樣譭謗三寶？」於是就惱羞成怒，發了脾氣：「我要試試你這個魔王！」


Having Not Yet Ended Birth and Death,His Annoyance Turns to Rage

Patriarch Bodhidharma said, "Since you teach people how to end birth and death, tell me, how does one end birth and death? In the Sutra you are lecturing, the inked areas are words, and the blank areas are paper. What do you use to teach people how to end birth and death? Have you ended your own birth and death?"

Hearing that, Dharma Master Shen Guang was speechless and thought to himself, "The things this Indian says are outlandish. Is he a manifestation of a demon king? Otherwise, how could he be slandering the Triple Jewel like that?" Thereupon, his annoyance turned to rage, and he lost his temper, "I'm going to try you out, you demon king!"

 

[北斗]

脾氣暴發　怒打祖師

哦！你看他講經講得天花亂墜，地湧金蓮，也一樣發脾氣！所以我就說似有似無嘛！發了脾氣怎麼樣呀？他就拿起他的武器；他的武器是什麼？就是一串念珠。他這念珠，不是我這個星月菩提；我這個不太重，很輕。他那個念珠是用鋼鐵造的，又硬又堅固，是拿著當武器的，遇到什麼妖魔鬼怪、狼蟲虎豹，就拿這念珠打。

那麼這回遇到達摩祖師這樣和他講話，這時脾氣一發，那不得了，簡直像洪水，山崩地裂似地，他說：「你謗法！」就拿起念珠，往達摩祖師面上打去。

Once His Temper Flares, in His Rage,He Strikes the Patriarch

Wah! You see, his lectures caused flowers to rain down from the heavens and golden lotuses to well up from the earth, and still he lost his temper! That's why I said Buddhism seemed to exist in China, and yet it did not. What happened when he lost his temper? What happened when he got angry? He grabbed his weapon. What was it? His string of recitation beads. His beads weren't lightweight like these "stars and moon Bodhi" beads of mine. His recitation beads were made of iron! They were hard and durable. His recitation beads weredesigned to be a weapon to be used in case he encountered weird entities, demons, ghosts, wolves, reptiles, tigers, or panthers. He could conveniently grab his recitation beads and attack.

This time, encountering Patriarch Bodhidharma, who had dared to challenge him so, his wrath was extreme, like a combination of tidal wave, avalanche, and earthquake. As he whipped out his beads, he snapped, "You are slandering the Dharma!" and cracked Patriarch Bodhidharma across the mouth.

 

[北斗]

打落牙齒　和血而吞

達摩祖師當時沒留心，也想不到神光法師會打他，雖然證果的聖人有他心通，但沒有預先說是我算一算看看他會怎樣對我。達摩祖師大約會武術，可是因為未加防避，想不到他會這麼厲害，說不過就動粗了；所以這一串念珠，就把達摩祖師的牙給打掉了兩顆。


打掉了兩顆牙，達摩祖師怎麼處理這牙？因為他是聖人，據一般傳說，祖師、證果聖人的牙被人打掉了，這牙若吐出去，落到地上，那個地方就要天旱三年，不下雨。 達摩祖師一想：「噢！若三年不下雨，你說這要餓死多少人！我來度眾生、救眾生，這不是殺眾生嗎？」可是如果不吐到地上，這牙怎麼辦？於是，兩顆牙也捨不得吐到地上，就把這兩顆牙像吃油餅似的，吞到肚裏去了；油餅沒有那麼硬，他就像吃骨頭似的，吃到肚裏頭去；然後就走了。

所以在中國有這麼一句話：「羅漢打落牙和血吞。」就從這裏來的。

The Blow Breaks Teeth;He Swallows Them with the Blood


Patriarch Bodhidharma was caught unprepared because he never expected that Dharma Master Shen Guang would hit him. Although certified sages can penetrate others' thoughts, the Patriarch did not reflect in advance on what the Dharma Master might do. Although Patriarch Bodhidharma had some skill in the martial arts, he was caught off guard. It never occurred to him that the monk would make such a vicious attack, that being unable to reply, he would resort to brute force. As a result, the blow broke off two of Patriarch Bodhidharma's teeth.


What did Patriarch Bodhidharma do about the two broken teeth? Well, he was a sage, and there's a legend about the teeth of a patriarch--a certified sage--and what happens if they get broken and he spits them out onto the ground. It's said that if a sage's teeth are knocked loose and he spits them out on the ground, it won't rain for three years.

Patriarch Bodhidharma thought, "Ai! If it doesn't rain for three years, just imagine how many people will starve! I have come to China to save beings, not to kill them!" And so Patriarch Bodhidharma did not let his teeth fall to the ground. Instead, he swallowed them, just as if he were eating a pancake. Well, pancakes aren't that hard--it was more like eating a bone! He swallowed them and made his exit.

Therefore, in China, there is a saying that came from that incident, "If someone knocks out the teeth of an arhat, the arhat swallows them."

 

[北斗]

祖師忍辱　默然而去

神光法師把達摩祖師的牙打掉兩顆，覺得他這回真勝利了！這達摩祖師轉過身，也沒說什麼，就走了，也沒回打他兩下，沒有！外來的人被人欺負也就算了，雖然人把他的牙打掉兩顆，也不能到政府那兒去告這個神光；出家人要忍辱嘛！況且他是個祖師，更應該忍辱！於是就向河南走去了。


Enduring the Insult,The Patriarch Leaves Silently

Having broken off two of the Patriarch's teeth, Dharma Master Shen Guang felt that he had won a real victory. Without saying a word, Patriarch Bodhidharma turned around and left. He did not fight back. Not at all! Foreigners are bound to be bullied. After all, he couldn't go to the government and file suit against Dharma Master Shen Guang for knocking out two of his teeth. Those who have left home have to be patient; how much more must a Patriarch forbear! After that happened, he just left and headed toward Henan.

 

[北斗]

鸚鵡知音　問計出籠

走到半路上，遇到一隻鸚鵡；這隻鸚鵡被圈在籠子裏，可是這隻鳥比神光法師聰明得多，牠認識達摩祖師是一位祖師，就說：西來意，西來意，請您教我出籠計。

你看達摩祖師對人沒有知音，對小鳥，卻遇到一個知音。什麼叫知音？就是認識他。

達摩祖師一聽，這隻小鳥這樣請教他，他也很高興，就教牠一個方便法──這不是實法，是權法。他說：

出籠計，出籠計，兩腿伸直兩眼閉，這便是你出籠計。

這好像祕密的妙訣，這是祕密法，所以他說話沒有那麼大聲，我現在講得恐怕比達摩祖師說的聲音要大，他一定告訴那隻小鳥說：「出籠計，……這便是你出籠計。」他一定是這樣講的，為什麼？他的聲音若是大了，會被旁人聽見，那這個方法就行不通了。所以你看這個小地方，這位祖師真是用心良苦呀！

A Parrot, Understanding Who He Is,Asks How to Escape the Cage

On the road, he met a parrot imprisoned in a wicker cage. However, this bird was much more intelligent than the Dharma Master Shen Guang. Recognizing that Bodhidharma was a patriarch, the bird chirped,

He Who Intentionally came from the West Intentionally came from the West,


What method is best, if you please,To escape this cage and leave?

Although Patriarch Bodhidharma hadn't been able to find any people who really understood who he was, this parrot definitely recognized him. He knew who he was. Hearing the bird's plea for help, Bodhidharma was pleased and taught the bird an expedient method--a provisional, not a real, Dharma. He said,

To escape the cage, to escape the cage;Stick out both legs. Shut both eyes.

That is the way to escape from the cage!

It was a secret, wonderful formula--a secret Dharma. It's for sure the Patriarch whispered it. He didn't say it so loudly as I am speaking now! He certainly must have used a very small voice: "To escape the cage...that is the way to escape from the cage!" He spoke softly like that. Why? If he had said it out loud so that others could hear him, then the method would not have worked. From this we can see how much trouble the Patriarch took to be kind.

 

[北斗]

靈鳥裝死　巧出樊籠

方法教會了，這小鳥就說：「好了！我現在明白什麼是出籠計了！」於是，當牠看見主人遠遠地走來了，登時就把這方便法用出來，腿也伸直，眼睛也閉上了，就等著主人來親近牠。

這主人天天回來都要來看一看、玩一玩牠，這是他最心愛的一隻小鳥，可以和他談話，又可以給他消愁解悶，所以回來總要先看看這隻鳥。這主人一看，哇！簡直就要哭起來了！怎麼這小鳥躺在籠子裏頭，不動彈了？啊！他比死了兒子都焦急，若兒子死了，他恐怕都沒有看得那麼重要。

The Smart Bird, Pretending to Be Dead,


Cleverly Escapes the Cage

Mastering the method taught, the little bird chirped, "All right! Good method! Now I understand how to get out of the cage!" When the bird saw his owner approaching in the distance, he applied the expedient method. Sticking his legs out straight and closing his eyes, he waited for his owner to come close.

Every day when the owner came home, he always played with this bird that he was so fond of. Talking to it would cheer him up. And so, as usual, upon his return, he first went to check on his bird. But this time when he looked in the cage he was shocked. He practically burst into tears. Why? His little bird lay on the floor of the cage, unmoving. He couldn't have been more upset if his own son had died. In fact, it's likely that this bird meant even more to him than his son!

 

[北斗]

生死自由　真出籠計

於是就把籠門打開，將小鳥拿出來放到手上，還是熱呼呼地沒有涼，因為牠是裝死，所以身上的暖氣不會沒有的。這主人把小鳥放在手裏轉著看，嗯！不動了，翻過來看，掉過來看，看來看去，看牠真像死了似地，但身體還是熱的，只是不喘氣了。於是就把手打開看看。噢！把手一開，你說這隻鸚鵡怎麼樣？牠精神就來了，噗！噗！飛了！這隻小鳥的出籠計靈了！ 可是我們現在都在籠子裏呢！我們這個出籠計怎麼辦？我們人哪，你不要自以

為是自由的，不要誤解自由，說我願意吃就吃，我願意喝酒就喝酒，願意做什麼就做什麼，我不守規矩也可以，這就是自由。這叫誤解自由，真正的自由，要能生死自由，我願意飛到天空就飛到天空，我願意鑽到地裏就鑽到地裏；你若有這個本事，才是自由，就像那隻小鳥。

Freedom over Birth and Death Comes
When We Truly Escape Our Cage

The owner pulled open the cage door and gently placed the little bird in his hand. It was still warm, not yet cold. In fact, because the bird was only pretending to be dead, of course it retained its body warmth. The owner peeked at the little thing, turning his hand this way and that. The bird didn't even quiver. Whatever angle he viewed it from, the bird appeared to be really dead. Its body was still warm; only its breath seemed to have stopped. Slowly he open his hand... PHLLRTTPHLRTTPHLRTT! The bird broke loose from his hand and flew away! It had escaped from the cage!


But we are still in a cage right now! How do we escape? As to human beings, you shouldn't think you are free. Don't misinterpret freedom, saying, "I am really free. If I want to eat, I eat; if I want to drink alcohol, I drink alcohol. I can do anything I please. I can ignore the rules if I want to! That's what I call freedom!" That's a misinterpretation of freedom. To be truly free, you must be free of birth and death, and then if you wish to fly into space, you can fly into space, and if you wish to burrow into the earth, you can burrow into the earth. If you can do that, you will gain the kind of freedom that the little bird gained.

 

[北斗]

十殿閻君　請師喝茶

那麼神光法師把印度來的和尚打掉了兩顆牙，這和尚也沒反擊他，以為這回是得到好處，勝利了，連外國和尚都打著了。可是打了外國和尚，這時，十殿閻君就來找神光法師說：「法師，你的壽命今天該盡了，我們是十殿閻君，現在要請你去開會，喝喝茶，到那兒研究研究你的問題。」

神光法師一聽，喔！看見這十個都是黑臉的人，說他們是十殿閻君，要請他到閻羅王那兒喝茶──請他到陰司去──就說：「噢！

怎麼？我還要死嗎？我也要死嗎？」

十殿閻君說：「你不死？你有什麼本事，想不死啊？」

神光法師說：「我講經講得天花亂墜，地湧金蓮；講得這樣好，還不能了生死嗎？我還要死嗎？」

十殿閻君說：「你當然要死囉！」

The Yamas of the Ten Courts Invite the Master to Tea

Dharma Master Shen Guang knocked out two of that Indian monk's teeth, and since the monk didn't retaliate, the Dharma Master figured he had the advantage--that he'd won the victory. He'd put a barbarian monk in his place. But not long after he struck the barbarian, the Yamas of the Ten Courts paid a call: "Dharma Master, your life is supposed to end today. We Yamas from the Ten Courts now wish to invite you to a meeting. We will go there to investigate your case."

Hearing that, Dharma Master Shen Guang exclaimed, "What?" as he watched those ten black-faced people who claimed to be the Yamas of the Ten Courts approach him and request his presence in the dark yin realm where he was to take tea with King Yama. Dharma Master Shen Guang said, "Oh! What? I still have to die? I also have to die?"

The Yamas of the Ten Courts challenged him, "Why would you not have to die? What talents do you have that make you think you don't have to die?"

Dharma Master Shen Guang replied, "I speak Sutras so well that flowers rain down from the heavens and golden lotuses well forth from the earth; doesn't that qualify me as having ended birth and death? I still have to die?"

The Yamas of the Ten Courts said, "Of course you have to die!"

 

[北斗]

誰能不死　閻君亦拜

神光法師說：「那麼在這世界上誰能不死？世界上到底有沒有人生死了了？」 十殿閻君說：「有！世界上有了生死的。」

神光法師說：「是哪一個？你可以告訴我嗎？我想跟他學一學這個了生死的法。」

十殿閻君說：「哪一個呀？就是剛才被你打掉兩顆牙的黑臉和尚，他就可以不死。他呀！閻羅王不單管不了他，還要天天拜他，向他叩頭頂禮，恭敬他。」

神光法師說：「噢！他就是了生死的和尚！這樣好了，我先不跟你們去，我去找這黑臉和尚，先跟他學了生死的法門。你們可不可以等一等呢？我現在是真心想了生死的，你們同閻羅王講一講，給我一點時間，讓我去學這個法門。」

十殿閻君說：「可以啦，你真有誠意，這也未嘗不可，我們可以方便你，可以通融通融。」

於是就沒有抓他到閻羅王那兒去喝茶。因為閻羅王也好喝茶，你們知道嗎？所以你們好喝茶的人哪，小心一點，哈哈！

Even the Venerable Yamas Will Bow to
Whoever Is Free from Death

Dharma Master Shen Guang asked, "Who in this world is free from death? Is there anyone in this world who has really ended birth and death?"

"There is," the Yamas of the Ten Courts replied. "There's someone in this world who has ended birth and death."

"Who?" asked Dharma Master Shen Guang. "Please tell me so that I can follow him to learn the way to end birth and death."

The Yamas of the Ten Courts replied, "Which one? He is the black-faced monk;


whose teeth you knocked out. He is free from death. King Yama has no control over him. Not only that, King Yama bows in respect to him every day!"

Dharma Master Shen Guang replied, "Oh! He is a monk who has ended birth and death? Fine. I don't want to go with you yet. I want to go find that black-faced monk and follow him to learn the Dharma-door of ending birth and death. Could you wait a bit to take me away? Is that all right? I am determined to end birth and death! Could you speak to King Yama on my behalf to see if he can give me a little more time so I can go learn this Dharma-door?"

The Yamas of the Ten Courts replied, "All right. Since you are so sincere, what you ask is not beyond the realm of possibility. We can be expedient and agree to a compromise."

Well, they didn't drag him off to have tea with King Yama. You know, of course, that King Yama also enjoys a good cup of tea. You who like to drink tea should exercise some caution! Ha! Ha!

 

[北斗]

神光法師　赤足追祖

這時神光法師一聽，十殿閻君答應他了，高興得不得了，連鞋也不記得穿了，急著要躲閻羅王，就打了赤足，在後面追達摩祖師。

Barefoot, Dharma Master Shen Guang Races after the Patriarch

As soon as Dharma Master Shen Guang heard that the Yamas of the Ten Courts agreed to his request, he was so delighted that he even forgot to put on his shoes. So anxious was he to avoid King Yama that he raced barefoot after Patriarch Bodhidharma.

 

[北斗]

見鳥出籠　悟裝死人

追達摩祖師，祖師在前面走，他就在後面追，一追，追到這兒，看見達摩祖師幫助這隻小鳥得到了自由。他就想：噢！原來就是這麼回事，要裝死，要裝一個活死人。

Meeting the Parrot Who Escaped from the Cage, He Realizes He Must Pretend to Be Dead

Patriarch Bodhidharma walked on ahead; the Dharma Master pursued him from behind. In his pursuit, he passed the parrot who had gained his freedom through the help of Patriarch Bodhidharma. Suddenly he understood, "Oh! That's what it's all about! I have to play dead. I have to be a living dead person!"

 

[北斗]

追隨祖師　直至嵩山

神光法師追達摩祖師，達摩祖師也不理他，就前頭走；神光法師就後頭追，一追就追到洛陽的熊耳山去，──中嶽嵩山也叫熊耳山。五嶽就是東嶽泰山、南嶽衡山、西嶽華山、北嶽恆山、中嶽嵩山。

Pursuing the Patriarch, He Follows Him Straight to Mount Song

Dharma Master Shen Guang raced after Patriarch Bodhidharma. The Patriarch paid no attention to him but just kept on walking. Dharma Master Shen Guang followed him all the way to Bear's Ear Mountain, close to Mount Song, the Central Yo [sacred mountain], near Luoyang. The Five Yo [sacred mountains] are Mount Tai (Peace) in the east, Mount Heng (Authority) in the south, Mount Hua (Elegance) in the west, Mount Heng (Constancy) in the north, and Mount Song (Eminence) in the center.

 

[北斗]

祖師面壁　法師求懺

到那兒追上達摩祖師了，達摩祖師就在那兒打坐、面壁──面壁就不和人講話。他一看達摩祖師在打坐，就跪在那兒不起來，說：「我起先見到您，不知道您是個祖師，是個聖人，還用念珠打您，這真是很對不起，我現在很後悔。我知道您是真有道德的，是一個懷道之士，現在特來向您求道、求法。」

達摩祖師看看他，也沒說什麼，還是在那兒打坐；神光法師在那兒跪著求法，一

跪，就跪了九年。因為達摩祖師面壁坐了九年，他也就跪了九年。

我們現在修行，坐了一陣子，覺得腰也痛，腿也痠，很不舒服的。你們各位想一想，達摩祖師在那兒面壁，坐了九年；而他在那兒跪了九年，這會不會很舒服？會不會很好玩？

各位再想一想，古人為法，跪了九年都還要求法，我們現在甚至連九個鐘頭，九天也沒跪，就覺得很辛苦，很不舒服了，又想：「我早上沒有東西吃啦，晚間沒有蜜糖喝啦！」就打這些個妄想；這和古人比起來，自己應該做什麼感想呢？

你們有沒有替神光法師著急？他在那兒跪了九年呢！大概有人會說：「哎呀！神光法師在那兒跪得腿很痛，比我打坐還痛呢！九年那麼長的時間。」又有人說：「他一定跑了。」那麼我告訴你，他不會跑的！他若跪了九年，一跑，就是前功盡棄，一分錢的價值也沒有了；所以他寧可跪死在那個地方，也不走了：「您這個祖師不傳給我躲閻羅的法，無論如何我也不起身！」

While the Patriarch Sits Facing the Rock Wall,
The Dharma Master Seeks to Repent

He caught up with Patriarch Bodhidharma, only to find him sitting in meditation facing a rock wall. He was turned toward the wall and not speaking to anyone. Seeing the Patriarch there in meditation, the Dharma Master knelt down and did not get up, saying, "When I first saw you, I did not know that you were a patriarch, a sage. I hit you with my recitation beads, and I'm really sorry. I am truly remorseful. I know you are a person with true virtue. You are a noble one who cherishes the Way. I am now seeking the Way, the Dharma, from you."


Patriarch Bodhidharma took one look at him and said nothing; he remained sitting in meditation. Dharma Master knelt there seeking the Dharma for nine years. Patriarch Bodhidharma meditated facing the wall for nine years, and Dharma Master Shen Guang knelt there for nine years.

We cultivators of the present time sit for a while and then begin to feel aches in our waist and pains in our legs, getting very uncomfortable. All of us should reflect on what it would be like to kneel for nine years. How comfortable would that be? How much fun?

All of us should reflect on how those of old could kneel for nine years seeking the Dharma. We of today can't endure nine days or even nine hours without feeling it's impossibly bitter and terribly uncomfortable. Some of us also think: "In the morning I don't get breakfast, and at night there's nothing sweet to drink." All sorts of such false thoughts arise. Comparing ourselves to those of old, how do we feel?

Do you feel concerned about Dharma Master Shen Guang? He knelt there for nine long years. Probably some of you are thinking, "Incredible! Kneeling for nine years like that, Dharma Master Shen Guang's legs must have really hurt. It must have been much worse than the leg pain we experience sitting in meditation. Nine years is a long time." Someone else may say, "He must have run away." Let me tell you, he did not run away! If he had run away after he had knelt for nine years, all the effort he made would have been wasted. It would not have been worth a penny. Therefore, he would rather have knelt there until he died than to have run away. "Patriarch, if you don't transmit to me the Dharma for avoiding King Yama, I will not get up under any circumstances."

 

[北斗]

九載跪求　了生法門

神光法師在那兒跪了九年，這九年他的功夫也差不多了，可是還沒有成就。有一年，天下大雪，在熊耳山上，外邊的雪下得很厚，達摩祖師在那兒打坐，他依然在那兒跪著，這雪就沒了他的腰，把他的腰都給埋了。你看這有多厚！這雪最少有兩尺半到三尺深了，可是他還是在那兒跪著求法。

達摩祖師在那兒面壁坐著，大約到吃飯的時候，站起身要去吃飯，一看神光法師還

在那兒跪著，就說：「你幹什麼在這兒這個樣子，下這麼大雪，你還在這兒跪著幹什麼？」

神光法師說：「我要求法，我要求道！請祖師您慈悲傳給我這個躲閻羅王的法！以前我講經不能了生死，現在我要了生死了，請祖師傳給我了生死的法門！」

達摩祖師一想：「你現在跪在我面前要求法躲閻羅，你不記得我問你話時，你用念珠打掉我兩顆牙，你不記得那時嗎？」然後就說：「你看現在天是不是下雪？」 神光法師說：「是下雪！這雪現在都沒我的腰了。」

達摩祖師就問：「雪是什麼顏色的？」

神光法師說：「雪當然是白色的！人人都知道雪是白色的，不是我一個人這麼說！」

達摩祖師就出一個題目，來考他一下，說：「好了！你看雪是白的，從天上下來的。你等著什麼時候天下紅雪，那時我就傳法給你，教你怎麼了生死、躲閻羅王。如果不下紅雪的話，你就不要希望了。你這麼一個惡和尚，一念珠就打掉我兩顆牙，我不向你報仇，就已經最慈悲了，怎麼又會傳給你法呢！」

你們各位想一想，這豈不是在和尚頭上找頭髮──沒有！沒有這個道理。和尚都是光頭的，哪有頭髮？對不對？但是他要在和尚頭上找頭髮。達摩祖師說：「你什麼時候看見雪是紅的，我再傳法給你。」就出了這麼一個題目，來考神光法師一下。

Kneeling for Nine Years,
He Seeks the Dharma for Ending Birth and Death

During the nine years he knelt there, Dharma Master Shen Guang's skill was almost perfected, but not quite. One year, it snowed very heavily on Bear's Ear Mountain. Outside, the snow was deep. Patriarch Bodhidharma sat meditating and as Dharma Master Shen Guang knelt there, he became buried in snow up to his waist. Imagine that! The snow must have been at least two to three feet deep, yet Dharma Master Shen Guang continued to kneel there seeking the Dharma.

At about lunch time, Patriarch


Bodhidharma got up from where he had been facing the wall meditating and saw that the Dharma Master was still kneeling. He said, "What are you doing here, acting like that? It's snowing so hard. Why are you still kneeling there?"

Dharma Master Shen Guang replied, "I am seeking the Dharma! I am seeking the Way! Please, Patriarch, be compassionate and transmit to me the method for avoiding King Yama. Before, I lectured on the Sutras, but could not end my own birth and death. Now I want to end birth and death. Please, Patriarch, transmit the Dharma for ending birth and death to me."

Patriarch Bodhidharma thought for a while and said, "Now you are kneeling here pleading with me to teach you the Dharma for escaping King Yama. But do you remember the time when I asked you a question and you responded by breaking off two of my teeth with your recitation beads? Do you remember that time?" Then, he asked, "Is it snowing?"

Dharma Master Shen Guang said, "Yes, it is snowing. I am buried in snow up to my waist."

Patriarch Bodhidharma asked, "What color is the snow?"

Dharma Master Shen Guang said, "Snow is white, of course. Everyone knows that snow is white. I am not the only one who says so."

Then Patriarch Bodhidharma gave him a problem to solve. He assigned him his test question. He said, "Fine. You see that the snow falling from the sky is white. When red snow falls from the sky, I will transmit the Dharma to you. I will teach you how to end birth and death and escape from King Yama. If no red snow falls, you are out of luck. What a vicious monk you are to have knocked out two of my teeth with your recitation beads! I have already been most compassionate by not seeking revenge; how could I possibly transmit the Dharma to you!"

You all think about it: wouldn't solving that problem have been like trying to find a hair on a monk's head? In other words, wasn't it impossible? Monks are bald; there would be no hair to be found, right? But Patriarch Bodhidharma was searching for a hair on a monk's head. He said, "Whenever you see red snow falling, then I will transmit the Dharma to you." That was the test question he gave to Dharma Master Shen Guang to answer.

 

[北斗]

神光斷臂　考題交卷

出了這樣一個題目，可是神光法師就把這文章給作成了！文章怎麼作的呢？他一看：「這回糟糕了，雪都是白的，怎麼會有紅的？」一抬頭，哦！看見石壁上掛著一把刀，這把刀是修道人的戒刀，就是預備在逼不得已，一定要犯戒時，寧可把自己的頭割下來也不犯戒，保持戒體，預備這樣用的。

神光法師一看，啊！福至心靈了：「好！既然您要紅雪，我就給您紅雪看看！」就

將這把戒刀拿下來，你說他幹什麼？是不是想要殺達摩祖師？不是的。他拿了戒刀，就一刀砍斷了一隻臂；這是他對這樣的考試題目，所作成的文章。

Slicing Off His Arm,
Dharma Master Shen Guang Solves the Problem

The problem was stated and Dharma Master Shen Guang solved it. He wrote the essay. How did he solve the problem? He thought, "What a mess I'm in now! The falling snow is white. How could it turn red?" Aha! He raised his head and saw a knife hanging from a rock. That knife was a cultivator's precept blade. It hung there in readiness in case the time ever came when the cultivator faced a situation in which he would be forced to break the precepts.

In that case, he would rather use the knife to cut off his own head in order to preserve


the integrity of his precept substance than to violate the precepts. When Dharma Master Shen Guang saw the knife, he had an idea. "Great! Since you want red snow, I will show you red snow." He took down the knife. Now, what do you suppose he was about to do? Was he going to kill Patriarch Bodhidharma? No. He grabbed the knife and with one swing cut off his own arm. That was how he solved the problem. He completed his essay.