雲門匡真禪師廣錄 2.142

2.142

舉：「僧問南泉：『牛頭未見四祖時，為什麼百鳥銜花獻？』泉云：『步步蹋佛階梯。』僧云：『見後為什麼不銜花獻？』泉云：『直饒不來，猶較王老師一線道。』」師云：「南泉秖解步步登高，不解從空放下。」僧云：「如何是步步登高。」師云：「香積世界。」僧云：「如何是從空放下？」師云：「填溝塞壑。」

He cited: "A monk asked Nanquan, 'Before Niutou saw the Fourth Patriarch, why did the hundred birds hold flowers in their beaks to offer him?' Nanquan said, 'At every step he trod the stairs of the Buddhas.' The monk said, 'Why did they not offer flowers after he saw him?' Nanquan said, 'Even if they did not come, he was still a thread's path away from Old Teacher Wang.'" The Master said, "Nanquan only knew how to ascend higher step by step; he did not know how to let go from emptiness." A monk said, "What is ascending higher step by step?" The Master said, "The World of Fragrant Accumulation." The monk said, "What is letting go from emptiness?" The Master said, "Filling the gullies and choking the ravines."