圓悟佛果禪師語錄 19.77

19.77

[Case] brought up: Whenever Baizhang ascended the seat, an old man would regularly listen to the Dharma. One day, when the assembly dispersed, the old man remained alone. Baizhang said: "Who are you?" The old man said: "I am not a human being. Long ago, five hundred lives back in the time of Kāśyapa Buddha, I once lived on this mountain. Because I gave a student an erroneous turning word, I fell into the body of a wild fox for five hundred lifetimes. Now I wish to bring up this case, and ask the Venerable to answer for me." Baizhang said: "Try to bring it up." The old man said: "Does a person of great cultivation still fall into cause and effect, or not? I answered, saying: 'One does not fall into cause and effect.'" Baizhang said: "You ask me, and I will speak for you." The old man then asked: "Does a person of great cultivation still fall into cause and effect, or not?" Baizhang said: "One is not blind to cause and effect." The old man thereupon had an awakening, was freed from the body of a wild fox, and transformed away.