虛堂和尚語錄 3.96

3.96

當晚小參，僧問：「佛法混濫，無甚今日，正人一出，天道好還，如何是為人底句？」師云：「劍握甑人手。」僧云：「只如德山小參不答話，趙州小參要答話，此意如何？」師云：「布袋鄭頭相似重。」僧云：「學人今夜小出大遇。」師云：「爾得箇甚麼？」僧便喝，師云：「果然。」僧禮拜。

That evening at the informal gathering, a monk asked: "The Buddha Dharma is mixed and corrupted; never has it been worse than today. When the righteous person appears, the way of Heaven turns for the better. What is the phrase for helping people?" The Master said: "The sword is gripped in the hand of the potter." The monk said: "Just as Deshan at an informal gathering would not answer questions, while Zhaozhou at an informal gathering insisted on answering questions—what is the meaning of this?" The Master said: "Both cloth bags are similarly heavy at the ends." The monk said: "The student tonight has made a small outing and met with a great encounter." The Master said: "What did you get?" The monk gave a shout. The Master said: "As expected." The monk bowed.