撫州曹山本寂禪師語錄 2.8

2.8

A monk took leave of Yaoshan to return to his home village. Yaoshan asked: 'There is a person whose whole body is festering red, lying among thorns.' The monk said: 'If so, then I will not return.' Yaoshan said: 'Only know to return, and I will give you a recipe for abstaining from grain.' [The monk] asked: 'What is the recipe for abstaining from grain?' Yaoshan said: 'Every day when ascending the hall, do not bite through a single grain of rice.' The Master said: 'Just as the ancient worthy said: "A person whose whole body is festering red is simply an ugly person whom no one can approach and who cannot be picked up or handled; furthermore, he is said to be lying among thorns." This only refers to daily activities nowadays; there is also nowhere to pick up or handle the matter on the side of protection and maintenance.' At that time a monk asked the Master: 'When the whole body is festering red, how is it?' The Master said: 'Shoulder it.' [The monk] said: 'Whom to shoulder?' The Master said: 'Do not let the festering red reach the ācārya.' [The monk] also asked: 'Between an ugly person and a person whose whole body is festering red, which one is heavier?' The Master said: 'A greatly ugly person is heavier.' The Master also brought this up to ask a monk: 'What does a person of great maintenance maintain?' Speaking in his place, [the Master] said: 'All day behind his back, he has never caught sight of it.'