虛堂和尚語錄 9.102

9.102

除夜小參，僧問：「門前爆竹通消息，何必重新舉話頭？」師云：「刺腦入膠盆。」僧云：「灰寒火冷，歲律告闌，如何是交接頭句？」師云：「家中無怪兆，何必釘桃符？」僧云：「老和尚有福，改觀徑山。」師云：「窮鬼揶揄。」僧云：「記得楊岐和尚因除夜看打驅儺，謂湘中端上人曰：『汝一籌不如他。』此意如何？」師云：「垂絲千尺，不釣凡鱗。」僧云：「其僧曰：『何謂也？』楊岐云：『他要人笑，爾怕人笑。』其僧當下頓忘知見。還端的也無？」師云：「鶻臭布衫須脫却。」僧云：「徑山除夜只看百戲，學人忽然悟去，誰為證明？」師云：「坌掃堆頭，更加搕𢶍。」僧云：「和尚滿口贊歎學人。」師云：「劍戟齒牙。」

At the informal gathering on New Year's Eve, a monk asked: "Firecrackers before the gate convey the news; why must we bring up the huatou anew?" The master said: "Sticking the head into a glue basin." The monk said: "The ashes are cold and the fire is out; the year's course announces its end. What is the phrase of the turning point?" The master said: "When there are no strange omens at home, why must one nail up peachwood talismans?" The monk said: "The old upādhyāya has blessings, giving Jingshan a new appearance." The master said: "A destitute ghost jeering." The monk said: "I recall that Upādhyāya Yangqi, while watching the exorcism ritual on New Year's Eve, said to Superior Duan of Xiangzhong: 'You are one tally inferior to them.' What is the meaning of this?" The master said: "Letting down a thousand-foot line, he does not fish for common scales." The monk said: "That monk said: 'What do you mean?' Yangqi said: 'They want people to laugh; you fear people laughing.' That monk right then abruptly forgot his views. Was this truly the case or not?" The master said: "The stench-ridden hemp robe must be stripped off." The monk said: "On New Year's Eve at Jingshan they only watch the hundred entertainments. If this student should suddenly awaken, who will bear witness?" The master said: "On top of a sweepings pile, adding more trash." The monk said: "The upādhyāya praises this student with a full mouth." The master said: "Swords and halberds in teeth and fangs."