黃龍慧南禪師語錄 1.150

1.150

師室中常問僧，出家所以、鄉關來歷，復扣云：「人人盡有生緣處，那箇是上座生緣處？」又復當機問答，正馳鋒辯，却復伸手云：「我手何似佛手？」又問諸方參請宗師所得，却復垂脚云：「我脚何似驢脚？」三十餘年，示此三問，往往學者多不湊機，叢林共目為三關。（《普燈》此文次云：脫有酬者，師未甞可否，人莫涯其意。有問其故，師曰：「已過關者，掉臂徑去，安知有關吏？從吏問可否，此未透關者也。」）

In his chamber the Master would often ask monks why they left home and the origin of their native place, and would further inquire: "Everyone has a place of birth-affinity. Which is your place of birth-affinity, Elder?" Furthermore, matching faculties in question and answer, right when sharp debate was underway, he would draw back, extend his hand, and say: "How does my hand compare to a buddha's hand?" He would also ask about what they attained from visiting and studying under ancestral teachers in various places, and then, lowering his foot, would say: "How does my foot compare to a donkey's foot?" For more than thirty years he presented these three questions, and students often failed to accord with his dynamic; the monastic groves together designated them as the Three Barriers. (The Pudeng adds to this: If there were any who replied, the Master never affirmed or denied them, so people could not fathom his intent. Someone asked the reason, and the Master said: "Those who have already passed the barrier swing their arms and go straight on; how would they know there is a barrier official? Those who ask the official whether they may or not—these are the ones who have not penetrated the barrier.")