牟尼西來佛子，老君東上英賢。算來佛老總陳言，不怕東搖西煽。神定玉爐凝定，心忙丹灶茫然。總來菩薩且登天，那怕凡人不轉。
牟尼西来佛子，老君东上英贤。算来佛老总陈言，不怕东摇西煽。神定玉炉凝定，心忙丹灶茫然。总来菩萨且登天，那怕凡人不转。
Shakyamuni, the Buddha’s son, came from the West;Lord Lao, a worthy of renown, rose in the East.Reckon it up: Buddha and Lao both speak the old words,unafraid of winds that shake from the east and fan from the west.With the spirit settled, the jade furnace sets firm;with the mind in a flurry, the elixir stove is lost in a haze.If, after all, a bodhisattva can rise to Heaven,why fear that mortal men will never turn?
話說韓湘子與那牧童騎在青牛背上，走上山去。一路裡見了些重阜修岩，雲垂煙接；青崖點黛，赭石呈紅。又到一座風山，有穴如輪，冷氣蕭瑟衝飈。湘子覺得坐身不定，那牧童全然不怕，在那青牛背上，有若鷹隼迎風，鵰鶚展翼一般，招搖快樂。轉過東北行二十里，見一菩薩，珠冠垂映，相貌端嚴，在於貝多樹下，敷吉祥草，東向而坐。湘子心念：「仙佛二教，雖有不同，其源則一，我若得果證金仙，菩薩當有靈驗。」念已，石壁上即有佛現形，青螺攢髻，滿月金容，長三四丈許。復行十五步，有青雀五百飛來，繞菩薩三匝而去。頃之，諸天幢幡接引菩薩上昇天界。湘子暗念：「是佛顯靈，我必得道成仙。」牧童道：「五行三界內，惟道獨稱尊，這菩薩是釋迦文佛，昔日我太上老君騎青牛出函關，度化他入中國來，才有此靈異。」湘子道：「你緣何認得他？」牧童道：「莊嚴雖別，心境皆同，這菩薩與我師父常常往來，故此我認得他。」湘子道：「你既認得他，怎的不跟了他上天？」牧童笑道：「我跟了他去，那個領你去見師父？」湘子道：「這正是不因漁父引，怎得見波濤。」說話之間，又過了幾個山頭，牧童道：「韓湘，這便是祖師的洞府，仙聖的瑤壇，你怎的還不奔上前去，倒這般從容自在？莫不起一點怠慢心麼？」湘子道：「韓湘怎敢怠慢。」牧童道：「你既有信心，便須勇猛精進。」湘子依命，跨下牛背，燕躍鵠踴，前奔幾里，才到一個去處。只見岩層岫衍，澗曲崖深，翠柏蔭峰，青松夾岸，素湍委練，蒼樹分綺，飛鳥翔禽，鳴聲相和。那兩扇洞門，半開半掩，一個小道童站在那裡。湘子連忙近前喏道：「師兄拜揖。」道童答禮，道：「你莫不是蒼梧郡湘江岸口的鶴童麼？」湘子道：「我叫做韓湘，不是恁麼鶴童。」道童道：「既不是鶴童，我師父不許相見，請別處去罷。」湘子便在門外叫起撞天屈來，道：「我萬里尋師，得到這裡，你怎的這般奚落我？」牧童勸道：「哥，你便與他通報一聲，但憑師父見不見就是，何苦執滯，不通些疏？」道童道：「哥這般說，我便進去報來，若是師父不許你進見，你只索就走，不要在此做賴皮。」湘子唯唯而立，不敢多言。
话说韩湘子与那牧童骑在青牛背上，走上山去。一路里见了些重阜修岩，云垂烟接；青崖点黛，赭石呈红。又到一座风山，有穴如轮，冷气萧瑟冲飚。湘子觉得坐身不定，那牧童全然不怕，在那青牛背上，有若鹰隼迎风，雕鹗展翼一般，招摇快乐。转过东北行二十里，见一菩萨，珠冠垂映，相貌端严，在于贝多树下，敷吉祥草，东向而坐。湘子心念：「仙佛二教，虽有不同，其源则一，我若得果证金仙，菩萨当有灵验。」念已，石壁上即有佛现形，青螺攒髻，满月金容，长三四丈许。复行十五步，有青雀五百飞来，绕菩萨三匝而去。顷之，诸天幢幡接引菩萨上升天界。湘子暗念：「是佛显灵，我必得道成仙。」牧童道：「五行三界内，惟道独称尊，这菩萨是释迦文佛，昔日我太上老君骑青牛出函关，度化他入中国来，才有此灵异。」湘子道：「你缘何认得他？」牧童道：「庄严虽别，心境皆同，这菩萨与我师父常常往来，故此我认得他。」湘子道：「你既认得他，怎的不跟了他上天？」牧童笑道：「我跟了他去，那个领你去见师父？」湘子道：「这正是不因渔父引，怎得见波涛。」说话之间，又过了几个山头，牧童道：「韩湘，这便是祖师的洞府，仙圣的瑶坛，你怎的还不奔上前去，倒这般从容自在？莫不起一点怠慢心么？」湘子道：「韩湘怎敢怠慢。」牧童道：「你既有信心，便须勇猛精进。」湘子依命，跨下牛背，燕跃鹄踊，前奔几里，才到一个去处。只见岩层岫衍，涧曲崖深，翠柏荫峰，青松夹岸，素湍委练，苍树分绮，飞鸟翔禽，鸣声相和。那两扇洞门，半开半掩，一个小道童站在那里。湘子连忙近前喏道：「师兄拜揖。」道童答礼，道：「你莫不是苍梧郡湘江岸口的鹤童么？」湘子道：「我叫做韩湘，不是恁么鹤童。」道童道：「既不是鹤童，我师父不许相见，请别处去罢。」湘子便在门外叫起撞天屈来，道：「我万里寻师，得到这里，你怎的这般奚落我？」牧童劝道：「哥，你便与他通报一声，但凭师父见不见就是，何苦执滞，不通些疏？」道童道：「哥这般说，我便进去报来，若是师父不许你进见，你只索就走，不要在此做赖皮。」湘子唯唯而立，不敢多言。
Now, Han Xiangzi and the herd boy went up the mountain riding on the green ox’s back. All along the way they saw tier upon tier of hills and long crags, where the clouds hung low and the mists joined them; blue-green cliffs dabbed with dark kohl, and ochre rocks showing red. Then they came to a mountain of winds, with a cave as round as a wheel, from which cold air came soughing and gusting. Xiangzi felt he could hardly keep his seat, but the herd boy was not the least bit afraid. There on the green ox’s back he was like a hawk or falcon facing into the wind, an eagle or osprey spreading its wings, swaying along as merry as could be. They turned northeast and went twenty li, and there they saw a bodhisattva, with a crown of pearls whose strands hung down and shimmered, his features grave and dignified, who had spread auspicious grass beneath a pattra tree and sat on it facing east. Xiangzi thought to himself, “The teachings of the immortals and of the Buddha are not the same, but they spring from one source. If I am to attain the fruit and become a golden immortal, the bodhisattva ought to show me a sign.” The thought was hardly finished when a Buddha appeared in visible form on the rock face, his hair gathered in a knot of blue snail-shell curls, his golden face like the full moon, some thirty or forty feet tall. Fifteen paces further on, five hundred blue birds came flying, circled the bodhisattva three times and flew away. A moment later the gods of all the heavens came with banners and streamers to receive the bodhisattva and lead him up to the realm of Heaven. Xiangzi thought to himself, “The Buddha has shown me a sign. I am sure to attain the Way and become an immortal.” “Within the Five Phases and the Three Realms,” said the herd boy, “the Way alone is held supreme. This bodhisattva is Shakyamuni Buddha. Long ago our Lord Lao the Most High rode a green ox out through the Hangu Pass and converted him, and that is how he came into China. That’s why there are wonders like these.” “How do you know him?” asked Xiangzi. “Their adornments differ,” said the herd boy, “but their hearts are the same. This bodhisattva and my master are always visiting each other, and that’s how I know him.” “If you know him,” said Xiangzi, “why didn’t you follow him up to Heaven?” The herd boy laughed. “If I’d gone off with him, who would take you to see your masters?” “Truly,” said Xiangzi, “had the fisherman not led the way, how could I ever have seen the waves?” As they talked they passed several more peaks, and the herd boy said, “Han Xiang, this is the patriarchs’ grotto-palace, the jasper altar of the immortal sages. Why aren’t you running on ahead? Why so easy and leisurely? You’re not getting the least bit slack, are you?” “How would Han Xiang dare be slack?” said Xiangzi. “If you have faith,” said the herd boy, “then you must press on with bold and zealous effort.” Xiangzi did as he was told. He swung down off the ox’s back and, leaping like a swallow and bounding like a swan, ran on ahead for several li until at last he came to a certain place. There the crags rose in layers and the caves spread wide; the streams wound and the cliffs plunged deep; emerald cypresses shaded the peaks and green pines lined the banks; white rapids trailed like unrolled silk and dark trees parted like patterned brocade; and birds on the wing, gliding and soaring, answered one another in song. The two leaves of the cave gate stood half open, half closed, and a young Daoist boy was standing there. Xiangzi hurried up to him with a respectful bow. “My respects, Brother,” he said. The young Daoist returned the bow and said, “Aren’t you the Crane Boy from the bank of the Xiang in Cangwu Commandery?” “My name is Han Xiang,” said Xiangzi. “I’m no crane boy of any kind.” “If you’re not the Crane Boy,” said the young Daoist, “my masters won’t see you. Kindly go somewhere else.” At that Xiangzi set up a cry outside the gate, calling on high heaven to witness the wrong done him: “I’ve come ten thousand li to seek my masters, and now that I’ve got here, how can you treat me with such scorn?” The herd boy put in a word for him: “Brother, just go in and announce him. Whether the masters see him or not is up to them. Why be so stiff about it and not give a little?” “Since you put it that way, brother,” said the young Daoist, “I’ll go in and announce him. But if the masters won’t let you in to see them, you’ll just have to go. No hanging about here making a nuisance of yourself.” Xiangzi stood there murmuring “Yes, yes,” and dared not say another word.
道童進去，替他稟報鍾、呂兩師。兩師道：「韓湘便是鶴童，那有兩個，著他進來。」湘子進到裡面，朝著兩師拜了八拜，跪倒地上道：「師父，你丟得韓湘好苦！韓湘受盡了百難千磨，方才到得這裡投見師父，望師父慈悲弟子則個。」鍾師道：「韓湘你來遲了，我這裡用汝不著。」湘子道：「師父臨行吩咐弟子說，若要見我，可到萬里外終南山來，故此弟子拋閃身家，越牆逃走，來尋師父，怎麼今日說出用不著弟子的話來？」鍾師道：「我原叫你快來尋我，汝如今來得遲，我另度了別人，所以用汝不著。」湘子道：「弟子背了叔嬸，不知路徑，從那萬死一生中間，脫得這條性命出來，故此來遲了些，望師父方便，救度弟子，真是覆載洪恩。」鍾師叫呂師道：「我用韓湘不著，你收他做徒弟罷。」呂師道：「師父且不留他，呂岩如何敢收。」湘子見兩個師父你推我讓不留他，他便哭告道：「師父既不肯收留弟子，是弟子前世裡不曾栽種得，所以該受這般苦楚，說也是徒然，弟子情願撞石而死，以表白弟子一點誠心也，羞回故鄉去見江東父老。」呂師見湘子這般哀苦，便跪告鍾師道：「韓湘既爾堅心，師父將就留他看守茅庵，也不枉他這場跋涉。」鍾師道：「然雖如此，韓湘且近前來，聽我吩咐。」韓湘跪在案前，鍾師道：「我這終南山從來是仕宦的捷徑，有一等妝高的，便隱在此山中，足跡不入城市，不至公門，以博名高。當道的大人敬仰他如景星慶雲。其實他營營逐逐，終日在那裡算計著城市中的名利。兜攬得公事去講的時節，再不說是親戚朋友來央浼他，又不說出自己得些錢鈔，以供酒資，以助放生，祈祝勝會；只說我耳朵裡聞得有這件事，心中為他抱不平，素性又憨直，不能隱默，故此敢寫這書，為這件事表暴一個明白，那當道的大人看了他的書，便說某老先生頗有澹台滅明之風，他的話句句是真實的，就依他問了。他便暗暗地稱心足意，得了謝禮，置買田產，起造房屋。人只說他是好人。這便是如今世上做鄉官，把持衙門，囑托官府的路頭。有一等巧宦的，見自己做官有些犯了周折，將次要掛入彈章，他便預先棄了印綬，一道煙跑回家來，躲在這終南山中，說道：我無意於功名，隨人彈劾，我只是不做官了。那惠文柱後見他棄了官去，彈章上便不寫他的名字。過得一年半載，見人士冷落了，不提起他，他卻鑽謀營幹，依先起官去做。見人只賣弄說：我本無心求富貴，誰知富貴逼人來。這便是昏夜乞哀，驕人白日的路頭。故此，這終南山比不得那蓬萊三島境界清寧。汝既到此地位，我替汝把那名利關牢拴固鎖，任汝橫衝直撞，榮享一生罷。」
道童进去，替他禀报钟、吕两师。两师道：「韩湘便是鹤童，那有两个，着他进来。」湘子进到里面，朝着两师拜了八拜，跪倒地上道：「师父，你丢得韩湘好苦！韩湘受尽了百难千磨，方才到得这里投见师父，望师父慈悲弟子则个。」钟师道：「韩湘你来迟了，我这里用汝不着。」湘子道：「师父临行吩咐弟子说，若要见我，可到万里外终南山来，故此弟子抛闪身家，越墙逃走，来寻师父，怎么今日说出用不着弟子的话来？」钟师道：「我原叫你快来寻我，汝如今来得迟，我另度了别人，所以用汝不着。」湘子道：「弟子背了叔婶，不知路径，从那万死一生中间，脱得这条性命出来，故此来迟了些，望师父方便，救度弟子，真是覆载洪恩。」钟师叫吕师道：「我用韩湘不着，你收他做徒弟罢。」吕师道：「师父且不留他，吕岩如何敢收。」湘子见两个师父你推我让不留他，他便哭告道：「师父既不肯收留弟子，是弟子前世里不曾栽种得，所以该受这般苦楚，说也是徒然，弟子情愿撞石而死，以表白弟子一点诚心也，羞回故乡去见江东父老。」吕师见湘子这般哀苦，便跪告钟师道：「韩湘既尔坚心，师父将就留他看守茅庵，也不枉他这场跋涉。」钟师道：「然虽如此，韩湘且近前来，听我吩咐。」韩湘跪在案前，钟师道：「我这终南山从来是仕宦的捷径，有一等妆高的，便隐在此山中，足迹不入城市，不至公门，以博名高。当道的大人敬仰他如景星庆云。其实他营营逐逐，终日在那里算计着城市中的名利。兜揽得公事去讲的时节，再不说是亲戚朋友来央浼他，又不说出自己得些钱钞，以供酒资，以助放生，祈祝胜会；只说我耳朵里闻得有这件事，心中为他抱不平，素性又憨直，不能隐默，故此敢写这书，为这件事表暴一个明白，那当道的大人看了他的书，便说某老先生颇有澹台灭明之风，他的话句句是真实的，就依他问了。他便暗暗地称心足意，得了谢礼，置买田产，起造房屋。人只说他是好人。这便是如今世上做乡官，把持衙门，嘱托官府的路头。有一等巧宦的，见自己做官有些犯了周折，将次要挂入弹章，他便预先弃了印绶，一道烟跑回家来，躲在这终南山中，说道：我无意于功名，随人弹劾，我只是不做官了。那惠文柱后见他弃了官去，弹章上便不写他的名字。过得一年半载，见人士冷落了，不提起他，他却钻谋营干，依先起官去做。见人只卖弄说：我本无心求富贵，谁知富贵逼人来。这便是昏夜乞哀，骄人白日的路头。故此，这终南山比不得那蓬莱三岛境界清宁。汝既到此地位，我替汝把那名利关牢拴固锁，任汝横冲直撞，荣享一生罢。」
The young Daoist went in and reported him to the two masters, Zhongli and Lü. “Han Xiang is the Crane Boy,” said the two masters. “How could there be two of them? Have him come in.” Xiangzi went inside, bowed eight times to the two masters and fell to his knees. “Masters,” he said, “how cruelly you left Han Xiang behind! Han Xiang has been through a hundred hardships and a thousand torments to get here at last and present himself to you. I beg you, Masters, have pity on your disciple.” “You have come too late, Han Xiang,” said Master Zhongli. “I have no use for you here.” “When you left, Master,” said Xiangzi, “you told your disciple, ‘If you want to see me, come to Mount Zhongnan, ten thousand li away.’ That is why your disciple threw over home and family, climbed over the wall and ran away to seek you. How can you say today that you have no use for your disciple?” “I told you to come and find me quickly,” said Master Zhongli. “Now you have come late, and I have brought someone else to the Way instead. That is why I have no use for you.” “Your disciple turned his back on his uncle and aunt,” said Xiangzi, “and did not know the way. It was ten thousand chances of death to one of life, and I barely escaped with my life; that is why I am a little late. I beg you, Master, be merciful and save your disciple. It would be a kindness as vast as the heaven that covers us and the earth that bears us up.” Master Zhongli called to Master Lü, “I have no use for Han Xiang. You take him as your disciple.” “If you won’t keep him, Master,” said Master Lü, “how would Lü Yan dare take him?” When Xiangzi saw his two masters pushing him off on each other, neither willing to keep him, he wept and pleaded: “Since you will not take your disciple in, Masters, it must be that your disciple sowed no good seed in his past life, and so he deserves to suffer like this. It is no use saying more. Your disciple would gladly dash his head against a rock and die, to show you the sincerity of his heart — he would be ashamed to go home and face the elders east of the river.” Seeing Xiangzi in such grief, Master Lü knelt and pleaded with Master Zhongli: “Since Han Xiang’s heart is so firm, Master, why not make do and keep him here to look after the thatched hermitage? Then this long trek of his will not have been in vain.” “Be that as it may,” said Master Zhongli, “come here, Han Xiang, and listen to what I have to tell you.” Han Xiang knelt before the table, and Master Zhongli said, “This Mount Zhongnan of mine has always been the shortcut to office. There is a kind of man who gives himself lofty airs: he goes off to live in hiding on this mountain, never sets foot in a town or comes near a government office, all to win himself a lofty name, and the great men in power look up to him as if he were an auspicious star or a lucky cloud. But in truth he is bustling and scrambling all day long, scheming after fame and profit in the towns. When he has drummed up some piece of official business to plead, he never lets on that relatives or friends came begging him to do it, nor that he has made a little money by it, to pay for his wine or to put toward releasing captive creatures and holding grand prayer meetings. He only says, ‘This matter came to my ears, and my heart cried out against the injustice of it. I am blunt and outspoken by nature and cannot hold my tongue, and so I make bold to write this letter, to set the matter plainly before you.’ When the great man in power reads his letter, he says, ‘Old Master So-and-so has something of Tantai Mieming about him. Every word he says is true,’ and he settles the case just as the man asked. Then our man is quietly delighted. He pockets his thank-you gifts, buys land and builds houses, and people only say what a good man he is. This is the road by which men today set themselves up as local grandees, hold the yamen in their grip and lean on the authorities. And there is a kind of crafty official who, seeing that he has run into some trouble in office and is about to be named in an impeachment, throws away his seal and ribbon before it comes, runs home in a puff of smoke and hides on this Mount Zhongnan, saying, ‘I have no interest in fame or office. Let them impeach me if they like — I simply won’t be an official any more.’ And the censors in their pillar-backed caps, seeing he has given up his post, leave his name out of their impeachments. After a year or so, when people have cooled off and no one mentions him any more, he worms his way in and pulls strings, and gets himself back into office just as before. And to everyone he meets he shows off: ‘I never had any wish to seek wealth and rank — who could have known they would come pressing upon me?’ This is the road of those who beg piteously by dark of night and lord it over others in broad daylight. So you see, this Mount Zhongnan is nothing like Penglai and the Three Islands, those realms of purity and peace. Now that you have come this far, I will make the pass of fame and profit fast for you, bolted and locked, and then you may charge about as you please and enjoy honour all your life.”