大慧普覺禪師語錄 4.18

4.18

Ascending the hall, the Master brought up: "A monk asked Master Ancestor Wuzu: 'Before Niutou had seen the Fourth Patriarch, why did the hundred birds hold flowers in their beaks to offer him?' Wuzu said: 'Wealth and nobility are what people desire.' 'After he saw him, why did they not hold flowers in their beaks to offer him?' Wuzu said: 'Poverty and lowliness are what people dislike.'" The Master said: "Although the Master Ancestor's answering the question like this was skillful in responding to the incoming potential, how could it prevent the words from startling the ears of the time? Jingshan also has two turning words to meet with the Master Ancestor. Before Niutou had seen the Fourth Patriarch, why did the hundred birds hold flowers in their beaks to offer him? Placing an owl's-tail ridge ornament atop a thatched hut. After he saw him, why did they not hold flowers in their beaks to offer him? Digging a latrine in the Buddha Hall."