[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [虛堂和尚語錄](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2000) › 4.7 # 虛堂和尚語錄 4.7 虛堂和尚語錄 4.7 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [4.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2000.4.7) 初機學道，如深山獼猴，被鐵索縛住，見人眼生，只管跳跳得形衰氣索，然後教之以藝，或刺鎗使棒，檐水打毬。弄得既熟，方可去此索子，風前月下水際雲根任之自然，驀忽叫一聲，孫大爾來，他便突在面前，及問他所習之藝，便如水裏火發。若如是體究，安得不妙。有般漢便道：「虛堂年老心孤。」殊不知，狗不擇家貧。 > When a beginner studies the Way, he is like a monkey from the deep mountains bound by an iron chain. Seeing people, he feels estranged and just keeps leaping about until his body is exhausted and his breath spent. Only then is he taught skills: thrusting spears, wielding staves, carrying water, or striking balls. When he has practiced until he is thoroughly proficient, only then can this chain be removed. Before the wind, beneath the moon, beside the water, or at the base of the clouds, leave him to what is natural. If you suddenly call out, 'Sun the Eldest, come here!' he will instantly leap before you; and when you ask him about the skills he has practiced, it will be like fire bursting from water. If you investigate thoroughly in this way, how could it not be marvelous? There are those who simply say, 'Xutang is old in years and lonely at heart.' Little do they know that a dog does not choose a poor home." > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 4.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2000.4.6) - [Next: 4.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2000.4.8) - [Up: 4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2000.4) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2000~en-mt.4.7) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2000.4.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2000.4.7) · Pramāṇa