虛堂和尚語錄 2.94

2.94

上堂，舉：「趙州因僧問：『一物不將來時如何？』州云：『放下著。』僧云：『一物不將來，放下箇甚麼？』州云：『放不下，擔將去。』」師云：「趙州向者僧痛處下一針，不妨奇特，只是病入膏肓，難以發藥。」

Ascending the hall, he cited: "Zhaozhou was asked by a monk: 'How is it when not a single thing is brought along?' Zhaozhou said: 'Put it down.' The monk said: 'Not a single thing is brought along; what is there to put down?' Zhaozhou said: 'If you cannot put it down, carry it along.'" The master said: "Zhaozhou drove a needle into where it hurt this monk, which was indeed extraordinary; yet the illness had already penetrated into the vitals, making it hard to apply medicine."