虛堂和尚語錄 2.164

2.164

上堂，舉：「南泉因兩堂首座爭貓兒，泉云：『道得即不斬。』兩堂無語，泉遂斬之。趙州從外歸，泉舉前話，州脫草鞋，安頭上出，泉云：『子若在救得猫兒。』」師云：「趙州借手拈香，要與兩堂雪屈。殊不知，狸奴已死南泉手，直至如今鼠子多。」

Ascending the hall, he cited: "Because the head monks of the two halls were disputing over a cat, Nanquan said, 'If you can speak, I will not cut it.' The two halls were speechless; Nanquan then cut it. Zhaozhou returned from outside, and Nanquan cited the previous words. Zhou took off his straw sandals, put them on his head, and went out. Nanquan said, 'Had you been here, you would have saved the cat.'" The Master said: "Zhaozhou borrowed a hand to offer incense, wanting to clear the grievance of the two halls. Little did he know that the cat had already died by Nanquan's hand, and down to this day the mice are numerous."