明覺禪師語錄 2.98

2.98

He cited: "Upādhyāya Zihu erected a signboard at the mountain gate, on which were written the words: 'Zihu has a dog: above it takes a person's head, in the middle it takes a person's waist, and below it takes a person's feet; if you hesitate, you lose your body and forfeit your life.' Whenever he saw a newcomer, he would shout: 'Watch the dog!' As soon as the monk turned his head, Zihu would return to the abbot's quarters." The Master said: "Everyone in the assembly says that this monk caught a bite. He certainly got bitten, yet what can be done about this monk still remaining? I venture to ask everyone: when Zihu's dog bites someone, they die—why is this monk still here? If there is no discerning eye to rescue this monk, even if Zihu appears in the world and bites hundreds of thousands to death, what benefit would there be? If I had seen it then, I would first have chopped down the signboard and only then entered the monastery. Waiting until that old fellow shouted 'Watch the dog,' I would have unleashed a scorched-tail tiger on him! Now, do you all want to see it? The day is rather late; return to the hall!"