大慧普覺禪師語錄 10.225

10.225

Later a monk cited this to Nanquan. Nanquan said, 'How miserable, Fubei! Brought down and broken once by this old woman.' Hearing of this, the old woman laughed and said, 'Teacher Wang is still lacking in turning points.' At the time, Chan traveler Chengyi of Youzhou asked the old woman, 'Why is Nanquan lacking in turning points?' The old woman wept, saying, 'Pitiable! Lamentable!' Chengyi was at a loss. The old woman asked, 'Do you understand?' Chengyi stood with palms joined. The old woman said, 'Dead Chan monks like this are as common as hemp and millet.' Later Chengyi cited this to Zhaozhou. Zhaozhou said, 'If I were to see this foul old woman, I would question her into silence.' Chengyi said, 'I wonder how the Venerable would question her?' Zhaozhou struck him. Chengyi said, 'Why did you hit me?' Zhaozhou said, 'For dead Chan monks like this, if not struck now, what are you waiting for?' A verse says: