予武人也，目不识一字，好弄长枪大剑，盘马弯弓以为乐。值中原沦丧，徽钦北狩，泥马渡河，
江南多事，予因应我少保岳元帅之募，署为裨将，屡立战功，遂为大将。忆昔年岳少保奉命出征，后旋师
还鄂，归途忽见一游僧，貌奇古，类阿罗汉像，手持一函，入营嘱予致少保。叩其故，僧曰∶“将军
知少保有神力乎？”予曰∶“不知也，但见吾少保能挽百石之弓耳。”僧曰∶“少保神力，天赋之欤？”予
曰∶“然。”僧曰∶“非也，予授之耳。少保尝从事于予，神力成功，予嘱其相随入道，不之信，去而
作人间勋业事，名虽成，志难竟，天也，运也，命也。奈若何，今将及矣！颂致此函，或能反省获免。”
予闻言，不胜悚异。叩姓氏不答，叩所之，曰∶“西访达摩师。”予惧其神威，不敢挽留，竟飘然去。
少保得函，读未竟，泣数行下，曰∶“吾师神僧也，不吾待，吾其休矣。”因从襟袋中出册付予，嘱
好掌此册，择人而授，勿使进道法门斩焉中绝，负神僧也。不数月，果为奸相所构。予心伤少保，冤愤
莫伸，视功勋若粪土，因无复人间想矣。念少保之嘱，不忍负憾，武人无巨眼，不知斯世，谁具作佛之
志，堪传此册者。择人既难，妄传无益。今将此册传于嵩山石壁之中，听有道缘者自得之，以衍进道之
法门，庶免妄传之咎，可酬对少保于天上矣。
时宋绍兴十二年鄂镇大元帅少保岳麾下宏毅将军牛皋鹤九甫序
我是一名武人，一字不识，喜好舞弄长枪大剑，骑马弯弓以此为乐。正值中原沦陷，徽宗、钦宗被金人掳往北方（北狩），高宗乘泥马渡河建立南宋，江南局势动荡不安，我便响应少保岳元帅的招募，担任副将，屡立战功，最终升为大将。
回忆当年，岳少保奉命出征，后率军返回鄂州，归途中忽然遇见一位游方僧人，相貌奇特古朴，如同阿罗汉像一般，手持一个函套，进入军营嘱咐我转交给少保。询问其缘由，僧人说：“将军知道少保有神力吗？”我说：“不知道，只看见我们少保能拉开百石重的弓。”僧人说：“少保的神力，是天赋的吗？”我说：“是的。”僧人说：“不是，是我传授给他的。少保曾经跟随我修行，神力得以成就，我嘱咐他随我入道修行，他不相信，离开后去建立人间功勋事业，虽然名声成就了，但志向难以圆满，这是天意、气运、命运啊。无奈大势已去！现在把这个函套送给您，或许能让他反省从而免除灾祸。”
我听了这番话，不胜惊异。询问他的姓氏，他不回答；询问他去哪里，他说：“向西寻访达摩祖师。”我畏惧他的神威，不敢挽留，他竟飘然离去。
少保得到函套，还没读完，泪水纵横流下，说：“我的老师是神僧啊，不等待我，我大概要完了。”于是从衣襟口袋中取出书册交给我，嘱咐我好好掌管这本册子，选择合适的人传授，不要让进道的法门就此断绝，辜负了神僧的心意。没过几个月，少保果然被奸相秦桧陷害。我心中为少保悲伤，冤愤无处伸张，视功勋如粪土，因此不再有在人间生存的念头。考虑到少保的嘱托，不忍心留下遗憾，但我作为武人没有巨大的眼力，不知道这世间谁具备成佛的志向，能够传承这本册子。选择传人既难，胡乱传授也无益。现在将这本册子传藏在嵩山石壁之中，听凭有道教缘分的人自然获得它，以延续进道的法门，或许可以避免胡乱传授的罪过，这样可以在天上对得起少保了。
时值宋绍兴十二年，鄂镇大元帅少保岳飞麾下宏毅将军牛皋鹤九甫序
I am a martial man, unable to read a single character, fond of wielding long spears and broad swords, finding joy in riding horses and drawing bows. At that time, the Central Plains had fallen, Emperor Huizong and Emperor Qinzong were captured northward (Northern Expedition/Capture), Emperor Gaozong crossed the river on a clay horse to establish the Southern Song, and Jiangnan was plagued by turmoil. I therefore responded to the recruitment call of Marshal Yue Fei, who held the title of Shaobao (Vice Grand Master of Military Training), serving as a deputy general. Having repeatedly merited military achievements, I eventually rose to the rank of grand general.
Recalling those past years, when Young Marshal Yue Fei was ordered to lead an expedition and later returned his troops to Ezhou, he suddenly encountered a wandering monk on the way back. The monk had a strange and ancient appearance, resembling an Arhat statue, holding a scroll case. He entered the camp and instructed me to deliver it to the Young Marshal. When asked about the reason, the monk said, "Does the General know that the Young Marshal possesses divine strength?" I replied, "I do not know; I only see that our Young Marshal can draw a bow of one hundred shi weight." The monk said, "Is the Young Marshal's divine strength innate?" I said, "Yes." The monk said, "No, I taught it to him. The Young Marshal once studied under me, and his divine strength was achieved through my instruction. I urged him to follow me into the Dao (Taoism/Buddhist path), but he did not believe [in my words], left, and engaged in worldly affairs of merit and achievement. Although his fame was established, his aspirations could not be fully realized; this is Heaven's will, fortune, and destiny. What can be done? The end is now near! Presenting this scroll case to you, perhaps he may reflect and avoid disaster."
Hearing these words, I was filled with awe and astonishment. I asked for his surname, but he did not answer; when asked where he was going, he said, "Westward to seek Master Bodhidharma." Fearing his spiritual power, I dared not detain him, and he departed gracefully.
Upon receiving the scroll case, the Young Marshal had hardly finished reading before tears streamed down his face. He said, "My teacher is a divine monk; he does not wait for me. I am doomed." He then took a booklet from his inner pocket and handed it to me, instructing me to guard this booklet well, choose a worthy person to transmit it, and ensure that the Dharma gate of advancing toward the Way is not abruptly cut off, thereby failing the divine monk. Not long after, indeed, he was framed by the treacherous minister (Qin Hui). My heart grieved for the Young Marshal; his injustice and indignation could not be vindicated. Viewing military merits as dirt, I no longer harbored any desire to remain in the human realm. Thinking of the Young Marshal's entrustment, I could not bear to leave this regret unfulfilled. As a martial man, I lack great insight and do not know who in this world possesses the aspiration to become a Buddha and is capable of transmitting this booklet. Since choosing a successor is difficult and transmitting it recklessly is of no benefit, I now hide this booklet within the stone walls of Mount Song. Let those with the karmic affinity for the Dao obtain it naturally, so as to perpetuate the Dharma gate of advancement, hopefully avoiding the blame of reckless transmission. In this way, I may repay the Young Marshal in heaven.
Preface by Niu Gao, styled Hejiu, General Hongyi, under the command of Marshal Yue Fei, Vice Grand Master of Military Training and Commander-in-Chief of Ezhou Garrison, in the 12th year of the Shaoxing era of the Song Dynasty.