虛堂和尚語錄 8.10

8.10

師乃舉：「曹山因僧問：『佛未出世時如何？』山云：『曹山不如。』僧云：『出世後如何？』山云：『不如曹山。』」師云：「曹山向針孔裏作活計，見黃面老子未盡。忽有人問育王，只向他道：漆桶！少間浴佛，牢把杓子。」

The master then brought up [the following]: "Because a monk asked Caoshan, 'How was it before the Buddha appeared in the world?' Caoshan said, 'Caoshan is not as good.' The monk said, 'How about after he appeared in the world?' Caoshan said, 'Not as good as Caoshan.'" The master said, "Caoshan made his livelihood inside the eye of a needle, not fully discerning the yellow-faced old fellow. If someone were suddenly to ask Yuwang, I would just say to him: 'Lacquer bucket! In a short while we will bathe the Buddha; grip the ladle firmly!'"