虛堂和尚語錄 2.106

2.106

解夏小參，僧問：「衲僧家，四月十五結他不得，七月十五解他不得，畢竟向甚處安身立命？」師云：「針鋒頭上翻筋斗。」僧云：「得與麼自由自在？」師云：「爾莫向石灰籮裏反眼。」僧云：「可謂一夏不虛度光陰。」師云：「刀錐之利。」僧云：「前程忽有人問，和尚今夏將何示人？」師云：「多添少減。」僧云：「三世諸佛也理會不得。」師云：「山僧更是理會不得。」僧云：「和尚今夜盡情說與學人了也。」便禮拜。

At the informal gathering for concluding the summer retreat, a monk asked, "For patch-robed monks, the fifteenth day of the fourth month cannot bind them, and the fifteenth day of the seventh month cannot release them. In the end, where do they settle their body and establish their life?" The Master said, "Turning a somersault on the tip of a needle." The monk said, "Can one attain such freedom and ease?" The Master said, "Do not roll your eyes backward in a lime basket." The monk said, "It may be called not spending the summer's time in vain." The Master said, "The sharpness of a knife or an awl." The monk said, "If suddenly someone down the road asks, 'What did the upādhyāya show people this summer?', how will it be?" The Master said, "Add much, subtract little." The monk said, "Even the Buddhas of the three times could not comprehend it." The Master said, "This mountain monk comprehends it even less." The monk said, "Tonight the upādhyāya has spoken it all to the student." He then made prostrations.