虛堂和尚語錄 9.97

9.97

朝廷降賜度牒二十道入常住修造，上堂，僧問：「徑山古剎，屋老僧殘，天意好還，兩蒙　宣賜，學人上來，願聞法要。」師云：「人人鼻孔遼天，箇箇感恩戴德。」僧云：「記得馬大師因僧問：『如何是祖師西來意？』馬師云：『爾道什麼？何不近前來。』此意如何？」師云：「縵天網子百千重。」僧云：「者僧近前，復舉前話，被馬大師一脚蹈倒，起來呵呵大笑道：『百千妙義，無量法門，盡向一毫頭上識得根源。』復呵呵大笑，又作麼生？」師云：「乞兒拾得錫。」僧云：「今日忽有人問和尚，如何是祖師西來意，未審作麼生答他？」師云：「雪後諸峯畫不如。」僧云：「學人今日小出大遇。」師云：「爾得箇什麼？」僧便喝，師云：「金毛獅子。」

The imperial court bestowed twenty monk ordination certificates for temple repairs and construction. Ascending the hall, a monk asked: "At the ancient monastery of Jingshan, the buildings are old and the monks infirm. Heaven's favor graciously returns, twice receiving imperial bestowals. This student comes forward wishing to hear the essentials of the Dharma." The Master said: "Everyone's nostrils reach to the sky; each and every one feels gratitude and carries virtue." The monk said: "I recall that a monk asked Great Master Mazu: 'What is the meaning of the Patriarch coming from the West?' Master Mazu said: 'What did you say? Why don't you come closer?' What does this mean?" The Master said: "A net covering the sky, a hundred thousand layers deep." The monk said: "That monk stepped closer and brought up the previous remark again, and was kicked down by Great Master Mazu. Getting up, he laughed loudly and said: 'Hundreds of thousands of subtle meanings and immeasurable Dharma gates are all recognized at their source on the tip of a single hair.' And he laughed loudly again. What about that?" The Master said: "A beggar found tin." The monk said: "Today if someone suddenly asks the Upādhyāya, 'What is the meaning of the Patriarch coming from the West?', how would you answer him?" The Master said: "After the snow, the peaks cannot be matched by painting." The monk said: "This student has made a small investment today and gained a great encounter." The Master said: "What did you get?" The monk then shouted. The Master said: "Golden-haired lion."