虛堂和尚語錄 1.152

1.152

上堂，舉：「巖頭示眾：『大凡唱教須從無欲中流出三句，只是理論咬去咬住，欲去不去欲住不住，或時一向不去，或時一向不住。』應庵拈云：『從上老漢，須得箇些子說話。』」師云：「巖頭若行一丈，應庵只行八尺，嚴頭若行一尺，應庵只行二寸。何故？從來把本修行，不敢棄嫌因果。」

Ascending the hall, he cited: "Yantou instructed the assembly: 'Generally speaking, to proclaim the teaching, three phrases must flow forth from freedom from desire. It is merely a matter of biting off and biting hold in theory—wishing to go yet not going, wishing to stay yet not staying; or at times completely not going, or at times completely not staying.' Ying'an commented: 'An old fellow from the line of ancestors must have a bit of talk.'"
The master said, "If Yantou walks ten feet, Ying'an only walks eight feet; if Yantou walks one foot, Ying'an only walks two inches. Why? From the start he has practiced relying on the root, not daring to discard or despise cause and effect."