虛堂和尚語錄 5.159

5.159

廣德周和尚因僧問：「承教有言，阿逸多不斷煩惱，不修禪定，佛記此人成佛無疑。此理如何？」德云：「鹽又盡，炭又無。」僧云：「鹽盡炭無時如何？」德云：「愁人莫向愁人說，說向愁人愁殺人。」

Upādhyāya Zhou of Guangde was asked by a monk: "I have received the teaching that says: 'Ajita does not sever afflictions and does not cultivate dhyāna, yet the Buddha predicted this person will attain Buddhahood without doubt.' What is this principle?" De said: "The salt is gone, and charcoal is also lacking." The monk said: "What happens when salt is gone and charcoal is lacking?" De said: "A sorrowful person should not speak to a sorrowful person; speaking to a sorrowful person worries one to death."