虛堂和尚語錄 9.122

9.122

中夏上堂：「事到極處則難說，理到極處則難明。事到極處則難說，河目海口，恣意瀾翻；理到極處則難明，雲烝月暈，水瘦山肥。作麼得二境相需去？忽有箇衲僧出來道：『直饒理事雙泯，也是藥病相治。』山僧道：『爾是草烏頭？半夏子？』待他擬議，拈主丈便打。」

Ascending the hall at mid-summer: "When phenomena reach the ultimate point, they are difficult to speak of; when principle reaches the ultimate point, it is difficult to clarify. When phenomena reach the ultimate point, they are difficult to speak of—with eyes like rivers and mouths like seas, they billow forth at will. When principle reaches the ultimate point, it is difficult to clarify—clouds steam and the moon halos; waters grow lean and mountains grow lush. How can both realms be brought into mutual accord? If a patch-robed monk should suddenly come forth and say, 'Even if phenomena and principle are both obliterated, that is still treating illness with medicine,' the mountain monk would say to him: 'Are you aconite root? Or pinellia tuber?' Waiting for him to hesitate, I would raise the staff and strike."