雲門匡真禪師廣錄 2.147

2.147

因南泉示眾云：「自小養一頭水牯牛，擬向溪東放，不免食他國王水草；擬向溪西放，不免食他國王水草。不如隨處納些些，他總不見。」復有僧舉似師，師云：「南泉水牯牛，隨處納些些，爾道在牛內納、牛外納？直饒爾向這裏說得納處分明，我更問爾索牛在。」後長慶云：「爾道古人前頭為人、後頭為人？」

Nanquan once instructed the assembly, saying: "From youth I have raised a water buffalo. If I intend to pasture it east of the creek, it inevitably grazes on the king's water and grass; if I intend to pasture it west of the creek, it inevitably grazes on the king's water and grass. It is better to let it feed a little everywhere, so no one notices it." Later a monk related this to the Master. The Master said, "Nanquan's water buffalo feeding a little everywhere—do you say it feeds inside the buffalo or outside the buffalo? Even if you can explain clearly where it feeds, I will still ask you for the buffalo!" Later Changqing said, "Do you say the ancient acted for others earlier or acted for others later?"