虛堂和尚語錄 9.76

9.76

上堂，舉：「興化示眾云：『今日不用如何若何，便請單刀直入，興化與汝證據。』時有旻德長老，出禮拜起便喝，化亦喝，德又喝，化亦喝，德禮拜歸眾，興化云：『若是別人，三十棒，一棒也較不得。何故？蓋他旻德一喝，不作一喝用。』便下座。」師拈云：「漢高祖紿韓信而殺之，身雖死，其心果死乎？興化放旻德長老三十棒，和氣如春，較之賓主相見，則遠之遠矣。」

Ascending the hall, he brought up: "Xinghua instructed the assembly, saying, 'Today there is no need for "how" or "what"; please enter directly with a single blade, and Xinghua will provide verification for you.' At that time, Senior Minde came forward, bowed, stood up, and immediately shouted. Xinghua also shouted. Minde shouted again; Xinghua also shouted. Minde bowed and returned to the assembly. Xinghua said, 'If it were anyone else, thirty blows—not a single blow less! Why? Because this shout of Minde's was not used as a shout.' He then stepped down from the seat."
The Master commented, "Emperor Gaozu of Han tricked Han Xin and killed him; though his body died, did his mind truly die? Xinghua spared Senior Minde thirty blows, his gentle warmth like spring; compared to guest and host meeting, however, it is far, far off."