大慧普覺禪師語錄 7.32

7.32

Instructing the assembly, he brought up the following: "The Great Prince Wang requested Prior Yan from Xuefeng's assembly to reside at Gushan. Xuefeng and Elder Fu saw him off to the gate, and on returning to the Dharma Hall, Xuefeng said, 'A single sacred arrow has shot straight into the ninefold city walls.' Fu said, 'The Venerable is right, but he is not yet there.' Xuefeng said, 'He is a thoroughgoing man.' Fu said, 'If you do not believe me, wait for me to go and test him.' He then went and stopped him on the road, saying, 'Where are you going, elder brother?' Gushan said, 'Going into the ninefold city walls.' Fu said, 'If you suddenly encounter the three armies surrounding and blockading you, what then?' Gushan said, 'His family naturally has a path leading to the heavens.' Fu said, 'In that case, you have left the palaces and lost the halls.' Gushan said, 'Where is one not revered?' Fu then returned and said to Xuefeng, 'What a fine sacred arrow—it has snapped!' and pointed to the preceding dialogue. Xuefeng said, 'His words stand.' Fu said, 'This old frozen boil, after all, still has home-town sentiment!'"
The Master said, "There is deliberation in the assembly saying: Where was the sacred arrow snapped? They say, 'Gushan ought not have answered his words; that is where the sacred arrow snapped. Gushan ought not have spoken principle; that is where the sacred arrow snapped.' Criticizing like this, not only does one fail to recognize Gushan, but one also fails to recognize old Fu. Little do they know that Elder Fu was precisely a thief who suffered a total defeat in front of Gushan and returned in shame, yet came to Xuefeng to make claims—much like peddling Yangzhou goods inside one's own house. If not for Xuefeng having the bearing of a great person, where would this thief find shelter? It was a pity to let him off then; instead, it became an unsettled gong'an. Right now, is there anyone who would vent spleen on behalf of the ancients? Step forward and try! I want to ask you: Where was the sacred arrow snapped?"