虛堂和尚語錄 5.41

5.41

陳操尚書，一日與眾官登樓，望見數僧，有一官人云：「來者總是行脚僧。」尚書云：「不是。」官人云：「焉知不是？」尚書云：「待近與諸公勘過。」須臾僧至，尚書召云：「上座。」僧舉首，尚書云：「不信道。」

One day, Minister Chen Cao went up into a tower with several officials and saw several monks in the distance. An official said, "Those approaching are all itinerant monks." The minister said, "They are not." The official said, "How do you know they are not?" The minister said, "Wait until they come close, and I will examine them for you gentlemen." In a moment the monks arrived. The minister called out, "Elder monks!" The monks raised their heads. The minister said, "Did I not tell you?"