虛堂和尚語錄 1.119

1.119

上堂：「顯孝盡力，只為得中下之機，要且不為得向上之機。主丈子不覺出來冷笑道：『大丈夫漢，等是為人，何不教他脫籠頭卸角馱，如白衣拜相一般，說甚麼向上向下？』山僧道：『主丈子，爾果然作家，我不如爾。』」

Ascending the hall: "Xianxiao has exerted his utmost strength only for the sake of medium and inferior capacities, but not for the sake of superior capacities. The staff unexpectedly came forth, sneered, and said: 'A great fellow, equally acting for others, why do you not teach them to take off their halters and unload their panniers, like a commoner appointed as prime minister, instead of talking about the higher or the lower?' The mountain monk said, 'Staff, you are truly an adept; I am not as good as you.'"