虛堂和尚語錄 9.31

9.31

除夜小參：「更籌餞臘，看看趲到結交頭，斗柄回春，日日數來添一歲。加一酌則龐公子帽頭著地，減一杯則李老君醉眼生瞋，從教臘雪連天，說甚宰牛分歲，盡是有名無實，說食充饑。徑山別有條章，只要知時識節，只如篝燈遠照靜守除夕。將何管顧？」卓主丈：「莫嫌老婦無盤飣，笑指爐中芋栗香。」

At the informal gathering on New Year's Eve: "The night watch tallies send off the twelfth month, and look—we are pressed right to the threshold of transition. The handle of the Dipper turns toward spring; counting day by day, another year is added. Add one cup, and young master Pang's hat hits the ground; subtract one cup, and old gentleman Li's drunken eyes kindle in wrath. Let the year-end snows reach the sky—why speak of slaughtering an ox to share the year? All of it is mere name without reality, talking of food to fill the belly. Jingshan has distinct regulations: you must simply know the season and recognize the period. Just as one covers a lamp to cast light afar and quietly guards New Year's Eve—how will you attend to it?" Striking the staff, he said: "Do not resent the old woman having no platters set out; / smiling, she points to the hearth where taro and chestnuts are fragrant."