虛堂和尚語錄 1.52

1.52

復舉：「洞山冬夜喫菓子次，問泰首座：『有一物黑似漆，常在動用中，動用中收不得，過在甚麼處？』泰云：『過在動用中。』山令侍者掇退菓卓。」師云：「盡道金地招手，江陵點頭。殊不知，長蛇偃月，未見輸贏，撿點得來，劍去久矣。」

He again brought up: "When Dongshan was eating fruit on a winter night, he asked Head Monk Tai: 'There is a thing black as lacquer, constantly in active function; within active function it cannot be contained. Where does the fault lie?' Tai said: 'The fault lies within active function.' Dongshan ordered the attendant to clear away the fruit table." The master said: "Everyone says that the golden ground beckons, and Jiangling nods. Little do they know that with the long snake and the crescent moon, victory and defeat have not yet been seen. When examined, the sword has long since gone."