虛堂和尚語錄 2.139

2.139

乃拈主丈云：「舉一事則迷理，措一機則失用。衲僧家，智游象外、妙入環中，猶是家常茶飯，無端被釋迦老子以無絲線繫却脚跟，直得東西南北去路無從，於是九十日內如守古塚鬼，謂之禁足安居剋期取證，亦未知所證者何事。驀然有箇不顧危亡底，掀翻圓覺伽監，毀罵平等性智，山僧只得退身有分。何故？」卓主丈：「老不以筋力為能。」

He then took up his staff and said, "To bring up one matter is to be confused about the principle; to set in motion one mechanism is to lose the function. For patch-robed monks, wisdom roaming beyond phenomena and subtlety entering within the circle are still everyday tea and rice. For no reason, they are tied by the old fellow Śākya at the heels with a stringless cord, so that they have nowhere to go in the east, west, south, or north. Consequently, for ninety days they are like ghosts guarding an ancient mound; it is called confining their feet to dwell in peace and setting a deadline to attain realization, yet they do not know what is to be realized. If suddenly there is someone who disregards peril and death, overturning the saṃghārāma of Perfect Enlightenment and reviling the samatājñāna, this mountain monk will only have to retreat. Why?" Striking his staff, he said, "The old do not take muscle and strength as their capability."