虛堂和尚語錄 1.76

1.76

上堂，舉：「寒山子因眾僧炙茄次，將茄串向一僧背上打，僧回首，山呈起茄串云：『是甚麼？』僧云：『風顛漢。』山却向傍僧云：『爾道是僧費多少鹽醬？』」師云：「欺敵者亡，者僧還甘麼？報恩若見他呈起茄串，道：『是甚麼？』便作聽勢。擬議，奪茄串便打。」

Ascending the hall, he cited: "When Hanshanzi saw the monks roasting eggplants, he struck a monk on the back with a skewer of eggplants. The monk turned his head, and Hanshan held up the skewer of eggplants, saying, 'What is this?' The monk said, 'A lunatic!' Hanshan then turned to a neighboring monk and said, 'Tell me, how much salt and sauce did this monk waste?'" The Master said, "One who underestimates the opponent perishes; did that monk accept it? If Bao'en had seen him hold up the skewer of eggplants and say, 'What is this?', I would have struck a listening pose. At any hesitation, I would snatch the eggplant skewer and strike him at once."