撫州曹山元證禪師語錄 1.71

1.71

National Teacher Zhong suddenly called his attendant. The attendant came and stood there. The National Teacher bowed his head. The attendant stood for a long time and then went out. The National Teacher called his attendant in this manner three times and then said, "I thought I was disappointing you, but you on the contrary are disappointing me." Baizhang brought this up and asked Zhaozhou, "What was the National Teacher's intention in calling his attendant three times?" Zhou said, "Like someone writing characters in the dark: though the characters are not formed, the literary pattern has already become manifest." Later, someone brought this up and asked the Master, "What was the National Teacher's intention in calling his attendant three times?" The Master said, "When the attendant returned the second time, he said, 'I do not believe that the Venerable Monk is calling me.'"