宣公上人講於一九八七年三月二十七日 A Lecture by Venerable Master Hua on March 27, 1987
龍褲禪師，不示人姓名，少年家貧，青年為僧。自在山洞，參「念佛是誰？」話頭。晝夜精進。數年後，明心見性，下山行菩薩道，於路旁設棚施茶，解行人之渴。某日，明代皇太后逝世，請福建高僧超荐。眾僧經茶棚時，師隨行荷物。
Chan Master Dragon Pants had a very poor childhood and became a monk in his late teens. He never revealed his real name to anyone, the following is the story of how he was given his name. He lived in a cave by himself, and investigated the Chan topic: “Who recites the Buddha’s name?” Day and night he applied his efforts diligently until he finally realized his true nature. He then left his mountain cave and elected to practice his Bodhisattva practices by setting up a pavilion on the side of the road to serve tea to thirsty passers-by.
至京入宮門，餘僧皆入，唯師以頭著地倒行而入。帝問何故？曰：「門下有金剛經。」掘之，果然有金剛經。帝敬信之壇超荐。
One day, the empress dowager of the Ming Dynasty passed away and the Emperor invited eminent monks from Fujian to preside over the ceremonies that would help her soul crossover. When a group of monks passed by the Master’s pavilion, the Master followed them and helped them carry their load. When they reached the Palace Gate, all the monks went through except for the Master. Instead, he propped himself upside down and entered walking on his hands. When the emperor asked him why he did such thing, the Master answered: “Buried under the Gate, there is a copy of the Vajra Sutra.” They dug the earth, and found the sutra. As a result, the Emperor was very respectful of the Master and asked him to set up an altar to preside over the ceremony.
儀式簡略，一桌一椅，供太后魂旛，偕帝登壇，而說偈曰：「我本不來，你偏要愛，一念不生，超升天界。」言畢，太后空中頂禮，升天而去。帝贈龍褲一條，故名龍褲禪師。又施寶塔一座，即今泉州承天寺之飛來塔也。
The ceremony was very simple: one table, one chair, and a banner that beckoned the soul of the empress dowager. The Master accompanied the Emperor to the altar and recited a verse: “At first, I was not going to come, but you are so attached to emotional love. Without a thought arising, you will cross over to Heaven.” Immediately upon hearing the verse, the empress dowager’s soul bowed respectfully and ascended to Heaven. As a reward, the Emperor gave the Master his own pair of pants — which in Chinese are referred to as: “Dragon Pants” (hence the name: Master Dragon Pants). The Emperor also offered the Master a jeweled pagoda; which is now known as the: “Fly Here Pagoda, ” and is located in the Chengtian Monastery of Quanzhou, in Fujian Province.
贊曰 A verse in praise says:
假名龍褲 非悟似悟
衣裡明珠 自性常住
袖中寶塔 萬里一步
成天古蹟 世人注目
Known as Master Dragon Pants,
He may appear enlightened or not.
Like a bright pearl hidden in one’s clothing,
Our inherent nature is ever present .
With a pagoda up his sleeve,
He travels ten thousand miles in one stride.
Chengtian Monastery becomes a historic site,
Attracting the eyes of the entire world.
又說偈曰 Another verse says:
路旁施茶解渴煩 無端僧眾鬧喧喧
服勞執役挑行李 登山涉水過大川
入門倒行頭朝地 升壇作法手指天
太后頂禮歡喜去 天子感謝拜金
He serves tea by the roadside, relieving their thirst and afflictions.
Some noisy monks suddenly pass by.
He serves them by carrying luggage.
Wading through rivers and climbing mountains.
Somersaulting through the palace entrance :
Ascending the altar where he presides, he points his finger to Heaven.
With gratitude and joy, the Empress Dowager bows and ascends to heaven.
The Emperor gratefully pays homage to the golden immortal.
【淺釋】 Commentary:
這位禪師可憐得很，連褲子都沒有一條。皇帝的金銀財寶很多，他都不要，而要皇帝的一條褲子，因此得名「龍褲」。
This Chan Master “Dragon Pants” was so poor that he couldn’t “afford” a pair of pants! The Emperor offered him riches and jewels, but he declined; instead, he asked for the Emperor’s pants. That’s how he obtained his name.
他年少時家裡很窮，和台灣承天寺的廣欽老和尚同樣是福建人。大概因為承天寺的祖師很窮，所以晚人也都是很窮的。廣欽好和尚小時候家裡很窮，三歲時就把他賣了，後來出家，活到九十多歲，去年二圓寂於台灣。
When he was young, his family was very poor. He and Master Guangqin of the Taiwan Chengtian Monastery, were both from Fujian Province. Maybe it’s because the Patriarchs of the Chengtian Monastery were all poor that people in later times were also poor. Master Guangqin’s family was so poor that he was only three when they decided to sell him and later he renounced the householder’s life and he passed away last February in Taiwan having lived past the age of ninety!
龍褲禪師出家後，在山洞認真修行，世間上一切都不要。他當時也不講話，其姊姊供養他一些飲食、衣服、臥具、湯藥，過了幾年回來一看，這些東西仍然在山洞內，動也沒動過。或許他沒有保險箱，或者這些東西不值錢，所以沒有人搶。
After renouncing lay life, Master “Dragon Pants” went to live in a cave where he cultivated diligently. He relinquished all worldly possessions, and took a vow of silence. His elder sister once came to the cave with offerings of food, clothing, bedding, and medicine. She returned years later only to find them untouched in their original place. He may not have had a safe place to store them, and maybe because they were not precious items, no one took them.
他用功修行參禪，參「念佛是誰？」為話頭。「話頭」就是話語之頭，在沒有說話之前，一念未生時那就是話頭。人人都會念「南無阿彌陀佛」。這個念「南無阿彌陀佛」的到底是誰呢？你說：「我會念佛」。那麼你死了之後，還會不會念呢？究竟我的什麼在念呢？我的臭皮囊在念？臭皮囊死了，用火一燒它也不會念，什麼都沒有了。參禪就是找這個念佛是誰。He applied his efforts in investigating Chan and meditated on the Chan topic “Who is mindful of the Buddha?” Huatou (Chan’s investigative topic) literally means the origin of words. Whatever is there before any words are spoken is the huatou. Everyone can be mindful of “Namo Amitabha Buddha.” So who is actually being mindful of “Namo Amitabha Buddha” then? You can say “I’m able to be mindful of the Buddha’s name.” Then will you still remember to be mindful after you die? Which part of you is being mindful? Is it your stinky “skin-sack”? After your body dies and is cremated, it will not be able to be mindful because nothing is there any more. Therefore we need to investigate Chan to find out who is mindful of the Buddha’s name.
龍褲禪師的心念很純，沒有什麼妄想，晝夜精進，參「念佛是誰？」豁然開悟，明心見性。什麼是明心見性？即明白本心，見自本性。這個心並不是肉團心，性也不是自己的知覺性（識心），而是本來的自性，也就是佛性。他開悟破參，「破參」就是徹底明白「念佛是誰？」這個明白了，天地間萬事萬物也都豁然明白。明白什麼呢？明白樹怎麼是直的，花是怎麼開的，一切的有情無情，其本來自性是什麼？為什麼老虎會吃人？為什麼貓會抓老鼠，不吃人？狗看門，雞司晨，這些問題都懂了。開悟並不是懂得外在玄玄妙妙的事情，而是懂得自性裡的事。你心裡為什麼儘打壞的念頭？想爭、想貪、想求、自私自利、打妄語，甚至於殺人放火，吸毒打獵賭錢。開悟就是明白這一切的問題。所謂「自性如虛空，真妄在其中，悟徹本來體，一通一切通。」「理雖頓悟，事須漸修。」開悟了只是明白理，在事上還要一點一點地修行。這位禪師尚未能做到財施、法施及無畏施，所以他從根本上做起，在路旁設一個免費的茶寮，解除人們的渴煩。
You comprehend how trees are straight, how flowers blossom, and everything about sentient and non sentient beings？ You understand what their original natures are? The Master was very innocent and did not have many false thoughts, so he could vigorously apply effort day and night to investigate “who is mindful of Buddha’s name.” In doing so, he suddenly realized enlightenment and saw his original nature. What is meant by seeing one’s original nature? It means understanding our original mind, seeing the original nature. This heart is not the flesh heart and the nature is not our discriminating consciousness, but our original nature, which is also called the Buddha nature. He became enlightened and penetrated this topic. Penetrating this topic of investigation means thoroughly understanding “who is mindful of the Buddha’s name”. Once you understand that, you will understand everything between Heaven and Earth. So what are we able to comprehend? You can comprehend how trees are straight, how flowers blossom, and every nature or phenomenon about sentient and non-sentient beings. You understand what their original natures are: why tigers eat people, why cats catch mice but not people, why dogs guard the house, and why roosters crow. He understood all these questions. Enlightenment does not mean learning something mysterious outside, but [learning the] things within our original nature. For example, why do you keep having evil thoughts? You have thoughts of fighting, greed, seeking, selfishness, thoughts of pursuing personal advantage, and thoughts of telling lies, or even worse, thoughts of murder, arson, gambling, hunting, or taking intoxicants. Attaining enlightenment means understanding all of these problems. It is said that “The original nature is like empty space, with both the truth and falsehood within it. Once you get to understand your original substance, you understand everything there is to be.” It is also said that “truth can be suddenly realized, but practice should be performed gradually.” Once you become enlightened, you will realize the truth. However, you still need to gradually apply your efforts in cultivation. This Chan Master had not perfected the three givings–the givings of wealth, of Dharma, and of fearlessness– so he decided to start from the basics by offering free tea to quench passers-by’s thirst. That’s why he was cultivating this at a very fundamental level — he set up a free pavillion to offer tea to relieve their thirst.
有一天，明朝萬曆年間，神宗的母后（李太后）崩逝。太后給神宗皇帝托夢說自己還在痛苦中，請他到福建請高僧來超度。於是皇帝下聖旨，福建全省的大德僧人到北京去做佛事，超度其母親。這些大德高僧自以為了不起，穿得漂漂亮亮，整整齊齊的，把鬍子都剃了，不過沒有剃眉毛，帶備應用之物，浩浩蕩蕩像軍隊似的向京城進發。路經茶寮停下喝茶，禪師得知這些僧人是被皇帝邀請去超度其母親，去了皇帝一定會供養很多錢。他問：「我可不可以跟你們同去，弄點錢來維持生活呢？」僧人們說：「你既不會念經，又不會做佛事，不會超度，只會吃飯，你怎麼能去？去了幹什麼？」他說：「我可以替你們挑東西，搬行李。」僧人想多一個人也僕所謂，結果叫他換了乾淨衣服，一路做粗活，隨隊進入京城。
One day during the Wanli Reign of the Ming Dynasty, the Empress Dowager (Emperor Shenzong’s mother) passed away. She appeared in the Emperor’s dream to tell him that she was suffering, and asked him to invite eminent monks from Fujian Province to help take her soul across. The Emperor issued an imperial edict to invite eminent monks from Fujian Province to assemble in Beijing and preside over ceremonies. These “eminent monks” thought highly of themselves. They dressed up in fancy, tidy clothes, shaved their beards, brought their necessities, and marched to Beijing like an army. When they stopped by the Master’s pavilion to have some tea, the Master learned about their agenda; and as a result, they would be for sure handsomely rewarded by the emperor. So the Master also asked, “Can I go with you to earn some living?” The monks said, “You do not know how to recite sutras, how to help with the recitation of ceremonies, nor how to take across the deceased. All you know is how to eat. How can you go like this? What’s the point of bringing you there?” He replied, “I can carry your luggage for you.” The monks were pleased to have a free servant and asked him to put on some clean clothes and take care of their chores. This way the Master followed them to Beijing.
皇帝在高僧們入宮門之前早有準備，把一部金剛經埋在門下，試驗高僧們的真功夫。那一位不由門中間走進來，他將請那一位超度他的母親。可是這些僧人魚貫而行，各各都從埋金剛經的地方走進來，最後剩下一個沒人瞧得起的，等所有的僧人進去後，他頭向前，打一個跟斗進去了。皇帝問他：「你怎麼這樣翻筋斗進來？」他說：「因為這裡有金剛經。」皇帝心裡明白這位才是真有功夫的僧人，於是請他登壇超度其母。其餘的和尚都很整齊的穿著黃袍，搭上祖衣，很莊嚴的擺起法壇。而這位破衣落蓑的人，褲子破了十幾個洞，露出裡面黑黑的肉，與天子登壇。他這個法壇上很簡單，只有一張椅子，一張桌子，上面放著太后的相及招魂的旛。他坐下便念起他的經說：「我本不來，你偏要愛，一念不生，超升天界。」這也可改為「一念不生，何等自在。」言畢，大眾見到太后在空中向他遙拜， 謝謝他，歡喜地升天去了。
Long before they arrived, the Emperor prepared a copy of the Vajra Sutra and buried it under the gate to the Palace to test who had real skill among the monks. He decided to invite whoever did not enter through the middle of the gate to preside over the ceremony for him. All the monks, except for the last one who was looked down upon by the others, entered the gate in a line and stepped over the Vajra Sutra. The last monk waited for all others to enter and then did a somersault to enter the gate. The Emperor asked him, “Why did you enter like that?” He replied, “Because there is a Vajra Sutra underneath.” The Emperor immediately knew that he had some real skill, so he invited him to ascend the altar to preside over the ceremony.
The rest of the monks, all well dressed in yellow monastic robes topped with red Patriarchal sashes, set up their Dharma altar in a dignified manner. In contrast, the Master wore tattered and shabby pants with his dark colored skin showing through the dozens of holes in his clothing.
He ascended the altar with the Emperor. [The setup of] His altar setup was very simple: a chair and one table with both a portrait of the Empress Dowager and a banner for taking her soul across.
He sat down and recited his own “sutra”: “Originally I did not [want to] come; but you were attached to emotional love. Without a single thought arising, you will ascend to the heavens.” It can be altered to “Without a single thought arising, how at ease and free you will be!” Right after the verse was spoken, the crowd saw the Empress Dowager bow to him in the air, express gratitude to him, and ascend to the heavens with joy.
超度後，他眼釘著皇帝所穿的褲子，皇帝說：「你喜歡我這條褲子？」「是的，我喜歡。」「你喜歡，我做多幾條送給你。」「不要，我就要你穿的這一條，你現在就脫下布 施給我吧！」於是皇帝把他穿的褲子脫下給他，故禪師名為「龍褲」。皇帝問他說：「你還要什麼？」他看見御花園有一個寶塔不錯，皇帝說：「我可以請人在福建為你建一個塔。」他說：「我不要新的塔，我只想要這個塔。」皇帝說：「你能拿得動就拿去。」禪師一手把塔放入袖子裡。塔本來是很大的，他可使它小中現大，大中現小。然後他把腳一跺，就回福建去，所謂「萬里一步」就那麼快。
After he took across the deceased Empress Dowager, the Master stared at the Emperor’s pants. The Emperor asked, “Do you like my pants?” “Yes, I do,” replied the Master. “If you like them, I’ll make a few more pairs and give them to you,” said the emperor. “No,” said the Master, “I only want the pair that you are wearing. Can you take them off and give them to me?” Then the Emperor took off his pants and gave them to him. That’s why the Master was called “Dragon Pants.” The Emperor asked him again, “What else do you want?” He expressed interest in a precious pagoda in the Emperor’s private garden. The Emperor told him, “I can order one to be built in Fujian that’s just like this.” He replied, “I don’t want a new pagoda. I only want this one.” “If you can take it away, go ahead.” Upon hearing this, the Master picked up the pagoda with one hand and placed it in his sleeves! How can such a big pagoda be put in one’s sleeves? This can be done because the Master can manifest the big within the small and the small within the big. He then stamped on the ground and returned to Fujian, travelling “ten thousand miles in one step.” That’s how fast he went!
回去後，廟上的小和尚問他由北京帶回什麼玩意兒？他把袖子打開，寶塔就飛出來，故名「飛來塔」。在佛教裡，有些事情令你無法相信，可是它還是真的。你有法子相信的盡是假的。人真假不分，真的當假，假的又當真，這世界就是這麼一回事。有的人名譽很高的，實際上他什麼也沒有；有的人沒有名聲，在路旁布施茶水，原來是位得道的高僧。
After he returned, a young monk asked him what he brought back from Beijing. He opened his sleeves and the pagoda flew out. That’s why the pagoda was called “Flying Here Pagoda.” In Buddhism, some stories are hard to believe, but they are true. Sometimes what you believe are not actually real. People are unable to distinguish true from false — they take what is false for true and what is true for false. This is the way of the world. Some people may be considered highly reputable; however, there is nothing substantial in them. Some may be without any fame and look like commoners, such as those who serve free tea to passengers by the roadside. But actually, that particular person turned out to be an eminent monk who had realized the Way.
贊曰 Therefore a verse in praise goes:
「假名龍褲」：「龍褲」是個假名字。不單「龍褲」是假名，世界上人的名字都是假的。譬如小孩子一出世，你給他取名為「小狗子」，他就知道他叫「小狗子」；你叫他「小白兔」，他就知道他的名字是「小白兔」。名字是隨便取的，你叫他什麼名字都可以。Known as Master Dragon Pants. “Dragon Pants” is an illusory name. Not only “Dragon Pants,” everyone’s names are actually illusory. For example, as soon as one is born, if you name him “little puppy,” he knows his name is “Little Puppy.” If you call her “Little White Rabbit,” she knows her name is “Little White Rabbit.” Names are arbitrary, and whatever you call him works.
「非悟似悟」：你看他不像是開悟，可是又好像是開悟，就是這樣真真假，假假真，令你捉摸不透，令你不認識。
He may appear enlightened or not. He did not appear to be enlightened at first glance, but upon a second look, he appeared to be enlightened. Within what is true, there is a bit of falsehood; within the false, a bit of truth, making people uncertain and confused.
「衣裡明珠」：我們衣服裡藏著的明珠就是自性。
Like a bright pearl hidden in one’s clothing. The pearl in our clothes refers to our inherent nature.
「自性常住」：自性是常住不變，不生不滅，不垢不淨，不增不減。無人、無我、無眾生、無壽者。
Our inherent nature is ever present. The inherent nature is constantly abiding, and it is neither pure nor defiled, neither comes into being nor ceases to be, and neither increases nor decreases. It does not have a notion of self, others, living beings, or longevity.
「袖中寶塔」：他袖裡有一個寶塔。
With a pagoda up his sleeve. He had a pagoda in his sleeves.
「萬里一步」：一萬里路，走一步就到了。
He travels ten thousand miles in one stride. He needed only one step to travel ten thousand miles.
「承天古蹟」：福建泉州承天寺的古蹟。
Chengtian Monastery becomes a historic site. The monastery is in Quanzhou, Fujian.
「世人注目」：世人都很注意這個飛來塔。世人都執著花招花樣。若不現出一個花招，沒有人會注意。這是不是要出鋒頭？不是。最後露一手，令人知道佛教裡是有真東西，不是空談，或高談闊論，妙趣橫生盡說一些不實在的事情。
Attracting the eyes of the entire world. People in the world pay special attention to this “Flying Here Pagoda.” People love to see fancy tricks. If you don’t show any, nobody pays attention to you. So does it mean you should show off? No. You should only display your wonder at the last moment to convince people that Buddhism is true, causing them to understand that Buddhism is not about abstract theories, high-flown talk, or about fancy stories full of wit and humor; rather, it has something genuine.
又說偈曰 Another verse goes:
「路旁施茶解渴煩」：他在路旁設一個茶寮，解眾生的渴煩。
He sets up a pavilion by the roadside to serve tea and relieve people’s thirst and afflictions.
「無端僧眾鬧喧喧」：正在施茶時，忽然來了一大堆僧人鬧喧喧地說：「到北京大概可以得到很多紅包。紅包可能會把袋子塞滿，你把袋子做大一點！」都在想能得到什麼利益。他表示想跟隨他們同去北京，大家都認為他沒有資格去，其實祇有他一個人才有資格。
Some noisy monks suddenly pass by. While he was serving tea, a group of noisy monks suddenly arrived, saying, “We can probably get lots of red envelopes[3] with money in them after we arrive in Beijing. We should make the bags bigger so we can take in all the red envelopes.” They were all thinking about the benefits they could get. The Master expressed his interest in following them to Beijing, but he was considered unqualified by them; yet in fact, he was the only one who was qualified.
「服勞執役挑行李」：後來他們答應讓他去，因為他能挑行李而不收工錢，他們可佔便宜。He serves them by carrying luggage. They allowed him to follow along because he could/ was willing to carry their luggage without charge, so they could take advantage of him.
(They allowed him to follow along because they could take advantage of his willingness to carry their luggage without charge.)
Wading through rivers and climbing mountains. In ancient times, transportation was very rudimentary, so the Master carried their luggage and crossed big rivers and mountains for them.
「入門倒行頭朝地」：別人都是頭朝天很有威儀地進入宮門。他打了個跟斗進去，皇帝問他為什麼這樣進來？他說：「因為這裡有金剛。」
Somersaulting through the palace entrance. The others all entered the gate with upright and proper deportment, but he somersaulted into the palace. When the Emperor asked him why he entered like this, he replied, “Because the Vajra Sutra is beneath here (the palace entrance)!”
「升壇作法手指天」：升壇時，其手指著天說偈頌：「我本不來，你偏要愛，一念不生，超生天界。」
Ascending the altar where he presides, he points his finger to Heaven. After ascending the altar, he pointed to Heaven, saying a verse: “Originally I did not [want to] come; but you were so attached to your love and desire. If not a single thought arises, you will ascend to the heavens.”
「太后頂禮歡喜去」：太后叩頭頂禮歡歡喜喜，升天而去，也不愁眉苦臉了。
With gratitude and joy, the Empress Dowager bows and ascends to Heaven. The Empress joyfully kowtows and bows, then ascends to Heaven, no longer showing signs of sadness on her face.
「天子感謝拜金仙」：天子很感謝龍褲禪師，禮拜大覺金仙！這位活菩薩，所以贈送他龍褲一條、寶塔一座。
The Emperor gratefully pays homage to the golden immortal. The Emperor expresses his deep gratefulness to Chan Master Dragon Pants. Bowing to the Greatly Enlightened Golden Immortal–a living Bodhisattva–the Emperor bestows upon him a pair of dragon pants and a pagoda. ♦