圓悟佛果禪師語錄 2.21

2.21

Ascending the hall, [the master] said, "The sword that kills people, the sword that gives people life—this was the style and standard of high antiquity, and is also the pivot of the present day. If you form conceptual understanding upon words and phrases, it is washing a clod of earth in the mud. If you do not understand through words and phrases, it is fitting a square peg into a round hole. Before you deliberate, you have already missed it; just as you deliberate, you are separated by mountain passes. Flint-spark fire, flashing lightning—whether you grasp it or fail to grasp it, you cannot avoid losing your body and forfeiting your life. And tell me: what is the principle of this? The bitter gourd is bitter right to the root; the sweet melon is sweet all the way to the stem." He stepped down from the seat.