虛堂和尚語錄 2.135

2.135

上堂，僧問：「二月已過，三月已來，桃花李花零亂，桑條柳條成陰，不涉萬緣，如何顧鑑？」師云：「不覺日又夜，爭教人少年。」僧云：「和尚豈無方便？」師云：「生薑終不改辣。」僧云：「有一人十二時中不依倚一物時如何？」師云：「鶻臭布衫須脫却。」僧云：「既不依倚一物，又脫箇甚麼？」師云：「細嚼難飢。」

Ascending the hall, a monk asked, "The second month has already passed, the third month has already arrived. Peach blossoms and plum blossoms fall in profusion, mulberry twigs and willow twigs cast shade. Not getting involved with the ten thousand conditions, how does one attend and reflect?" The master said, "Unawares, another day and night pass; how can one make a person young again?" The monk said, "Does the upādhyāya have no skillful means?" The master said, "Raw ginger in the end does not change its spiciness." The monk said, "When there is a person who throughout the twelve periods does not depend on a single thing, how is that?" The master said, "The falcon-stench cloth shirt must be stripped off." The monk said, "Since he does not depend on a single thing, what else is to be stripped off?" The master said, "When chewed finely, it is hard to be hungry."