圓悟佛果禪師語錄 17.36

17.36

[The Master] cited: "Zhaozhou visited a hermitage master and immediately said: 'Is there? Is there?' The hermitage master held up his fist. Zhaozhou said: 'The water is shallow; this is not a place to moor a boat,' and left. He also visited another hermitage master and likewise said: 'Is there? Is there?' The hermitage master also held up his fist. Zhaozhou said: 'Able to release and able to snatch away, able to kill and able to bring to life.' He bowed and left."
The Master critiqued: "The lifeblood of the Buddhas and Patriarchs, the hammer and tongs of the successive sages, shifting the Dipper and moving the stars, measuring heaven and weaving earth! There are fellows who have not left their nests and dens who constantly say: 'The tongue is in Zhaozhou's mouth.' Little do they know that their own life already belongs to another. If one can grasp the transcendent cardinal lineage and meet the two hermitage masters, one can immediately settle dragons and snakes and distinguish black from white; this is just the right place to apply effort. Do you know where Zhaozhou ended up? Be sure not to be muddle-headed!"