虛堂和尚語錄 1.82

1.82

復舉：「昔有老宿，一夏不為師僧說話，有僧嘆云：『我只麼空過一夏，不敢望和尚說佛法，得聞正因二字也得。』老宿聞云：『闍梨莫𧬊速，若論正因，一字也無。』道了扣齒云：『我無端恁麼道。』隣壁有老宿聞云：『好一釜羹，被兩顆鼠糞污却。』」師云：「三箇擔板漢，一箇較些子。報恩一夏，懸鼓待椎，佛法二字，無人問著。何故？不因入水，爭見長人。」

He further cited: "In ancient times there was an elder venerable who did not speak to the monks for a whole summer. A monk sighed and said, 'I have spent an entire summer in vain like this. I dare not hope that the Upādhyāya would preach the Buddha Dharma, but even hearing the two words "correct cause" would suffice.' The elder venerable heard this and said, 'Ācārya, do not speak rashly! When it comes to the correct cause, there is not even a single word.' Having spoken, he clattered his teeth and said, 'I spoke thus for no reason.' An elder venerable next door heard this and said, 'Such a fine pot of stew, ruined by two pieces of rat droppings!'" The Master said, "Three board-carrying fellows, yet one was slightly better. At Bao'en, for the whole summer the drum has hung waiting for the mallet, but nobody has asked about the two words 'Buddha Dharma'. Why is that? If one does not enter the water, how can one see a tall person?"