明覺禪師語錄 3.11

3.11

He brought up: "A monk asked Xuefeng, 'How is it when the cold spring is in the ancient torrent?' Feng said, 'Staring with open eyes, one cannot see the bottom.' The monk said, 'How is one who drinks it?' Feng said, 'It does not enter through the mouth.' The monk brought this up to Zhaozhou. Zhou said, 'It cannot enter through the nostrils.' The monk then asked Zhaozhou, 'How is it when the cold spring is in the ancient torrent?' Zhou said, 'Bitter.' The monk said, 'How is one who drinks it?' Zhou said, 'He dies.' When Xuefeng heard this brought up, he said, 'Zhaozhou is an ancient Buddha!' From then on he did not answer questions." The Master said, "People in the assembly all say that Xuefeng could not get out of this monk's question, which is why Zhaozhou did not approve. Understanding the words like this deeply wrongs the ancient ones. Xuedou is not like that: cutting through nail and severing iron—a true master of the fundamental role; descending to level the high—difficult for an adept."