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【宣化偈曰】
洛陽白馬馱經來 菩提達摩面壁臺
嚴公為法不惜命 拙者施教暢所懷
蠱毒難侵何須吐 甘露普潤育英才
秦鏡高懸照群品 枯木生花歎奇哉
白話解：
洛陽白馬馱經來：講這個洛陽白馬寺，這是在漢朝，迦葉摩騰和竺法蘭這兩位尊者，都是證果的聖人。他們在漢明帝的時候，帶了《四十二章經》這一部經到了中國來。當時到了中國，因為他們都是印度人，中國人都有點欺侮印度人，因為到了自己家門上了，自己這個本事就來了，欺侮外來人。那麼誰欺侮他們呢？就是這個同行的，同行也不一定是同行，就是道教。當時道教在中國很盛行的。中國很盛行道教，道教就說佛教傳到中國來，這是邪教，不能相信的。
那麼漢明帝「夜夢金人」，他晚間作夢，夢見金人，就說在西邊有金人。後來和欽天監一討論這個問題，欽天監就說，這大約應該是在印度，印度有佛出世，那麼這個金人大約是佛。因為這樣子，以後就有摩騰和竺法蘭這兩位尊者，就從印度用白馬馱著這部《四十二章經》到中國來，《四十二章經》，我們這兒很多，你們有興趣可以研究研究，這是第一部佛經傳到中國，這部經也很少的，也是非常重要，這是佛說的。那麼這部經傳到中國之後，道教就妒忌了，一看，皇帝如果信了佛，我們道教都被打入冷宮了，所以因為怕入冷宮，他就盡講些妒忌障礙的話，說佛教是假的，我們道教才是真的。如果不信的話，我們就來比試、比試。
皇帝就問說：「那你怎麼樣比試呢？」這個老道就說：「我們道教的經典不怕火燒，可是佛教的經典啊，一定是怕火燒的。因為什麼呢？因為道教，當時他以為他會畫一些符啊，會念一些咒啊，就可以逼住這個火，不燒他們的經典。又或者他有這些化學的東西，當時這些老道也懂得一些化學，怎麼把這個東西灑在書上，火就燒不著了。有這個把握，所以他就要用火來燒，哪個經典被火燒了，哪個就是假的，燒不著的就是真的。這時候就問摩騰和竺法蘭兩位尊者，可不可以這麼比試呢？摩騰和竺法蘭說：「可以的！」於是就預備好了，把佛教的《四十二章經》和道教的經典放在一起，用火來燒。
可是這一燒怎麼樣呢？把道教的經典都給燒了，佛教的經典不著，火燒不著。這時候老道就動了殺心了，就要殺這兩位印度的和尚，殺他們。這兩位尊者就一湧身虛空，這麼一跳，跳到虛空裡去了，在虛空裡他們就現十八變，什麼叫十八變呢？這羅漢都有十八變的，他會身上出水，身下出火；或者身下出水，身上出火。那麼一個身體，水火在那裡互相都可以出來，那麼水也不妨礙火，火也不妨礙水。就像那「紅鑪雪片」似的。這樣又在空中躺著，又在空中坐著，又在空中跳舞，顯種種的神通，這才把老道投降了，那麼以後老道也不敢再爭了。所以以後佛教在中國才立得住，這是說洛陽白馬馱經來。
所以佛教到中國來，當時道教就不允許佛教傳到中國來。就好像我們最初搬到萬佛城，有幾十個神父、牧師，到萬佛城來攆佛敎徒走，說不准在這個國家弘揚佛法，這個國家不歡迎佛敎。你們要是願意弘揚佛法，就到蘇聯去弘揚，它那個地方是沒有宗敎的，你們到那個地方去，我們這個地方是天主敎、耶穌敎的國家，我們不歡迎佛敎的，就這個樣子。唉！你們誰也不知道這個厲害啊，所以我們這個萬佛城，不容易立得住的。我們雖然沒有燒經典來比試，但是都是很困難的一件事，所以說洛陽白馬馱經來。
菩提達摩面壁臺：菩提就是覺悟的覺字，達摩就是法，就是覺法。本來菩提達摩是梵語，中文翻譯過來應該叫覺法禪師。面壁臺，他在那兒面壁了九年。九年，爲什麼他在那兒面壁呢？因爲他和梁武帝話不投機。梁武帝問他說：「朕我啊，度了很多僧，造了很多廟，對佛敎我是貢獻很多的，那麼你說我有沒有功德？」菩提達摩也是老實過頭，就照直說了，說：「你沒有功德。」梁武帝一想，哦！是可忍也，孰不可忍也。我做了這麼多好事，你說我沒有功德，好了！我不睬你了。就這麼話不投機半句多，所以菩提達摩就去聽神光講經。
這個神光，當時講經講得天花亂墜，一講經，天就有花下來；地湧金蓮，地上還湧出金蓮花來，有這麼大的感應，他以爲自己是了不起啦，菩提達摩因爲神光是在講佛經，一定有一些是信佛的，那麼善一夥，惡一群啊，什麼人就找什麼人。於是乎也就去聽經，聽完了經，就問他說：「法師，你現在在這兒做什麼？」神光一聽，豈有此理你這個大鬍子的印度人，怎麼連我講經都不知道，說：「我在這兒講經的嘛！神光理直氣壯地。菩提達摩問：「講經，講經幹什麼？」神光說：「我講經敎化人了生死嘛！菩提達摩又說：「你講的經，黑的就是字，白的就是紙，你以爲黑的字，白的紙，講出來就會敎人了生死嗎？」神光聽了，沒有什麼話講了，就說：「哦！你這是謗佛、謗法，你這人真混帳！真可惡！」於是乎把頭上戴的一個鐵念珠，他那時戴那念珠是鐵的，鐵的幹什麼呢？是預備做武器的，遇著人，就用念珠好防身的。那麼他把念珠拿起來，朝菩提達摩劈面就打了一念珠，菩提達摩一閃，也沒有閃開，因為神光也有點功夫的，就打到牙上了，把牙就給打掉了兩顆。
當時打掉兩個牙，菩提達摩因為慈悲為懷，他是個證果的聖人，如果他的牙掉到地下，就說這地方就有大的災難，什麼災難呢？這地方三年不會下雨，這表示護法善神沒有盡到他們保護的心。所以他一想，如果吐到地下要旱三年，那不知道要餓死多少老百姓，人就受不了，於是乎他就把這兩個牙吞到肚裡去。所以中國有句土話，差不哩一般人都知道，說「打下牙往肚子裡嚥」，就是從這兒來的。
菩提達摩把二個牙吞到肚子裡去了，免得地方荒旱，之後就走了。走了，神光法師躊躇滿志，心想，你這個印度和尚跑來攪亂我的道場，這回你知道我的厲害了，把你打跑了，很高興。可是菩提達摩走了，無常鬼就來了，無常鬼一來就說：「法師，我們老板要請你去赴宴呢！」神光說：「你們老板是哪一位啊？我不認識啊！」無常鬼說：「你不認識，我告訴你，就是閻羅王啊！閻羅王是我的老板，我現在請你去，到閻羅王那兒開一個宴會，請你去講經說法的嘛。」神光一聽是閻羅王，平時他在佛經上也看過，所以知道這一下是宴無好宴，酒無好酒。說：「那怎麼辦呢？我現在講經說法講得天花亂墜，地湧金蓮，也要去見你老板嗎？」無常鬼說：「不要說你啊，誰也免不了的，都要去見我的老板。」神光就問：「那誰可以不見呢？你介紹我去見一見這不用見閻羅王的人啊！」
（待續）
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Hsuan Hua's Verse Says:
'White, horses came to Loyang bringing Sutras.
Bodhidharma faced the stone wall.
The Venerable, yen forgot his life for the Dharma.
Jwo bestows the teaching and he spills out the ideal in his bosom.
The Gu-poison has difficulty entering, so why spit it out?
Sweet dew pervasively nourishes and develops bright talent.
The Chin Mirror hangs on high, reflecting all categories of beings.
Flowers bloom on withered wood, and people sigh.
Commentary:
White horses came to Loyang bringing Sutras. In the Han Dynasty, at White Horse Monastery in Loyang, there were two Venerables, Kasyapamatanga and Dharmaraksha, who were Sages certified to the fruition. In the era of Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty, they brought
The Sutra in Forty-two Sections to China. Because they were Indian, they were bullied by some Chinese people. On their own ground, the Chinese exercised their skill to bully the foreigners. Well, who was doing the bullying? They were people from the same walk of life. Or, perhaps they were not of the same walk of life, but were Taoists. Taoism was very popular then in China. The Taoists said Buddhism was a deviant teaching transmitted to China, and should not be believed.
Well, Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty "dreamed of a golden person at night." In the night, he had a dream in which he saw a golden person in the West. Afterwards, he discussed the event with the court astronomer Chin Tyan Jyan, who said, "This omen probably refers to India, because the Buddha was born in India. This golden person probably was the Buddha." Later on, the two Venerables Kasyapamatanga and Dharmaraksha, riding white horses from India, came to China bearing
The Sutra in Forty-Two Sections. This was the first Buddhist Sutra transmitted to China. It is very short yet extremely important, and it was spoken by the Buddha. After this Sutra was transmitted to China, the Taoist religion jealously observed, "If the Emperor starts to believe in Buddhism, we Taoists will fall out of favor and be forgotten." That's why they kept speaking in this jealous and obstructive way, saying Buddhism was fake, and only Taoism was true. "If you don't believe it," they said, "we can hold a contest to test it out."
The Emperor asked, "How are we going to have a contest?"
The Taoists said, "Our Taoist scriptures can withstand the burning of fire. But the Buddhist scriptures definitely cannot take the fire." Why? Because the Taoists then thought they could perform some spells, or recite some mantras to hold back the fire, and keep it from burning up their scriptures. Maybe these old Taoists had some chemicals to sprinkle on the books to keep them from catching fire, so they were confident. That's why they wanted to set the scriptures of both religions on fire. The scripture that got burned would be the false, the one that didn't would be true.
They asked Venerable Kasyapamatanga and Venerable Dharmaraksha if they were willing to have a contest, and they said, "Fine." So they got ready, and put the Buddhist
Sutra in Forty-Two Sections together with the Taoist scriptures, and set them on fire.
Guess what? The blaze consumed all the Taoist scriptures, but could not burn the Buddhist Sutra. The old Taoists had a murderous thought, and wanted to kill the two Venerable Ones from India. The two Venerables raised their bodies up in the air--they simply leaped up into empty space, and manifested the Eighteen Transformations. What are the Eighteen Transformations? All Arhats possess these eighteen abilities: they can emit water from the upper body and fire from the lower body, or emit water from the lower body, and fire from the upper body. From one body, they can emit both water and fire, with neither one obstructing the other. This is just like
a snow flake in the red furnace. They could recline, sit or dance in mid-air, displaying all kinds of spiritual powers. Then the Taoists surrendered, and didn't dare contend anymore. Thus, it was possible for Buddhism to become established in China. So this is to explain, "White horses came to Loyang bringing Sutras." At that time, the Taoist religion forbid Buddhism from being transmitted to China. It's like when we first moved to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, and several dozen priests and ministers came here to drive out Buddhism, saying, "You are not allowed to propagate the Buddhadharma in this country. This country does not welcome Buddhism! If you want to preach the Buddhadharma, go to Russia to do it! They don't have any religion there. Our country is a Catholic and Protestant country. We don't welcome Buddhism." This is just what they were like. Ah! None of you realize how serious this is! It truly wasn't easy to establish the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. Although we haven't had a contest of burning scriptures, it's still been very difficult.
Bodhidharma faced a stone wall. Bodhi means "enlightened" and Dharma means "law". "Bodhidharma" is Sanskrit, so his name should be translated as Dhyana Master "Enlightened to the Law." He faced a wall for nine years. For what reason? Because Emperor Wu of Lyang failed to see his point. The Emperor told him, "I have helped many monks, built numerous temples, and done so much for Buddhism. Tell me, do I have merit and virtue?"
Bodhidharma was too honest, and answered bluntly, "You have no merit and virtue."
Emperor Wu thought, "Oh? If I can take this, there's nothing I can't endure. I've done so many good deeds, yet you say I have no merit and virtue. Fine! I won't speak to you anymore." The conversation failed entirely, so Bodhidharma went to listen to Shen Gwang expound the Sutras.
Shen Gwang lectured the Sutras so well that heavenly flowers fell in profusion and golden lotuses welled up from the earth. Whenever he lectured, the heavens would send down flowers, and a lot of golden lotuses would come out of the earth. Getting such a tremendous response, he thought he was quite something! Bodhidharma knew that there were bound to be Buddhists where Shen Gwang was lecturing, for "birds of feather flock together." Bodhidharma listened to the lecture, and afterwards he asked, "Dharma Master, what were you doing just now?"
Hearing this, Shen Gwang thought furiously, "What is the logic behind this? You long-bearded Indian—don't you know that I'm lecturing the Sutra?"
He indignantly said, "I'm lecturing the Sutra!"
Bodhidharma asked, "What are you lecturing the Sutra for?"
Shen Gwang said, "I'm lecturing the Sutra to teach people to end birth and death."
Bodhidharma then said, "In the Sutra, the words are black and the paper is white. Do you really think that by lecturing about the black words and white paper, you can teach people to end birth and death?"
Shen Gwang had no reply to this, so he said, "You are slandering the Buddha and the Dharma this way. You are a real scoundrel, truly disgusting!" He took out the iron recitation beads he always carried. What were they for? He was ready to use them as a weapon to protect himself. Shen Gwang picked up his recitation beads, and whipped them right at Bodhidharma's face. Bodhidharma tried but failed to dodge the blow, for Shen Gwang had some skill in wielding the beads, and they knocked out two of his teeth.
As one who is certified to sagehood, Bodhidharma always based himself in compassion. Now, if his teeth fell to the ground, there would be a disaster in that place. What disaster? It would not rain for three years, as a sign that the good Dharma-protecting spirits had not fulfilled their duty of protection. In a three-year drought, who knows how many common people starve to death? Therefore, he swallowed his teeth. From this story comes the Chinese folk saying, "Swallow the knocked-out teeth."
Bodhidharma swallowed his teeth to avert a local drought, and then departed. Dharma Master Shen Gwang felt smug and satisfied. He thought, "You Indian monk, you came to disturb my Way-place, but now you know you shouldn't mess with me, and I've chased you away." He was delighted. But after Bodhidharma left, the Ghosts of Impermanence came and said, "Our boss wants to invite you to a party." Shen Gwang said, "Who's your boss? I don't know him!"
The Ghosts of Impermanence said, "You don't? Our boss is none other than King Yama! They're having a party, and would like you to go lecture the Sutras and speak the Dharma!"
When Shen Gwang heard the name King Yama, from reading the Sutras he knew that this wouldn't be a pleasant party, and the wine wouldn't be good either. He said, "What shall I do? Even though I lecture the Sutras so well that heavenly flowers rain down and golden lotuses well up from the earth--I still have to go see your boss?"
The Ghosts of Impermanence said, "Not only you, no one can avoid it. Everyone has to go see our boss."
Shen Gwang asked, "Is there anyone who doesn't have to go see him? Please introduce me to someone who doesn't need to see King Yama!"
(to be continued)
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