虛堂和尚語錄 3.119

3.119

復舉：「當山國一禪師因馬祖遣僧馳書至，書中作一圓相，國師啟緘見之，遂於圓相中著一點封回。」師云：「可惜許，當時只好留在案上，一任日炙風吹，非唯坐斷馬祖舌頭，亦使天下衲僧無摸索處。事既往矣，還有為國師拔本底麼？」卓主丈。

He also cited: "Because Mazu sent a monk to deliver a letter to National Teacher Guoyi of this mountain, in which he drew a circle, the National Teacher opened the seal, saw it, and immediately put a dot inside the circle and sealed it to return it." The Master said: "What a pity! At that time he should have just left it on the table, leaving it entirely to the burning sun and the blowing wind. Not only would this have cut off Mazu's tongue, it would also have left the patch-robed monks of the world with no place to grope. The event is already past; is there still anyone who can pull out the root for the National Teacher?" He struck his staff.