大慧普覺禪師語錄 4.27

4.27

Ascending the hall, a monk asked: "An ancient said: 'It is like a man up a tree, holding a branch in his mouth, his hands not grasping a bough, and his feet not treading on the tree. I wonder, does he still have a share in answering words or not?'" The Master said: "He has already answered the words." The monk said: "The student asked about the words up the tree; why does the Venerable answer from under the tree?" The Master said: "Only because you asked from under the tree." The monk continued: "Can you deceive the eyes of the assembly?" The Master said: "Clearly, I cannot deceive them." The monk continued: "Just when the tree has not yet grown and news has not yet stirred, from where did Xiangyan get this huatou?" The Master said: "He got it from inside your lacquer bucket." The monk continued: "Just as the Venerable says: 'Calling it a bamboo comb violates; not calling it a bamboo comb opposes'—is there still a place to help people or not?" The Master said: "There is none." The monk continued: "If so, then it becomes set up in vain." The Master said: "Set up in vain." He then said: "'It is like a man up a tree, holding a branch in his mouth, his hands not grasping a bough, and his feet not treading on the tree. Someone under the tree asks about the meaning of the Patriarch's coming from the West: if he answers him, he loses his body and forfeits his life; if he does not answer him, he goes against what was asked.' At that time, Xiangyan had just said this when there was one who disapproved, called Senior Monk Hutou, who stepped forward from the assembly and said: 'I do not ask about up the tree; say a phrase from under the tree!'" The Master said: "Perilous! Xiangyan laughed heartily, 'Ha-ha!'" The Master said: "Perilous! Of these two 'perilous' of Jingshan, one is like heaven covering all, like earth supporting all; one is completely irrelevant and has no connection. Is there anyone who can distinguish them? If you can distinguish them, not only will you personally see Xiangyan, but you will also leave Senior Monk Hutou with no place to establish body and life. If not, Jingshan will provide a commentary on this ready-made gong'an for all of you: 'Calling it a bamboo comb violates; not calling it a bamboo comb opposes.'"