虛堂和尚語錄 8.91

8.91

上堂，舉：「趙州僧堂後問一僧：『大眾向什麼處去？』僧云：『上山普請。』趙州袖出一柄刀云：『老僧住持事繁，請上座斷却命。』僧拋下刀子而走。」師云：「趙州過頭丈子到處探水，當時者僧若與本分草料，管取別甑炊香。」

Ascending the hall, he cited: "Behind the Saṅgha hall, Zhaozhou asked a monk: 'Where is the assembly going?' The monk said: 'Up the mountain for communal work.' Zhaozhou drew a knife from his sleeve and said: 'This old monk's abbot duties are troublesome; please, venerable elder, cut off my life.' The monk threw down the knife and ran away." The Master said: "Zhaozhou's over-long pole tested the waters everywhere. Had that monk at that time given him his proper allotment of fodder, he would surely have steamed fragrance in a separate pot."