虛堂和尚語錄 9.103

9.103

師乃云：「老不禁寒，山邊水邊曝日；春歸閬苑，長底短底從新。笙歌叢裏賀年朝，錦繡筵中開壽域，衲僧門下，別有條章，每日蒙頭打坐，不知歲月易遷，直饒拶著不來，誰展鉢盂喫飯？恁麼會去，儱侗真如；苟或不然，且臘月三十夜一句又作麼生？」卓主丈：「老樹臥波寒影動，野煙浮草夕陽昏。」

The master then said: "Old age cannot endure the cold—basking in the sun by the mountain and by the water; spring returns to Langyuan—long ones and short ones renewed alike. Amidst pipes and songs celebrating the New Year's dawn; opening the realm of longevity amidst embroidered banquets. Under the patch-robed monk's gate, there are different regulations: every day covering one's head and sitting in meditation, unaware of how easily the years pass. Even if pressed so tightly that nothing comes forth, who unfolds the bowl to eat rice? Understanding it in this way, it is vague Suchness; if it is not so, then how about the phrase for the thirtieth night of the twelfth month?" Striking his staff: / "An old tree lies in the waves, its cold shadow moving; / Wild mist floats over the grass, the setting sun grows dim."