虛堂和尚語錄 1.120

1.120

An informal gathering on New Year's Eve: "Years depart and years come, welcoming the new and sending off the old; this mountain monk cannot deceive you in the least. The long month has thirty days, the short month twenty-nine; you cannot deceive this mountain monk in the least. Since we know host and guest do not deceive each other, when eating rice together we must discuss choking. Patch-robed monks each possess a plot of land; from year's beginning to year's end, they make their living within it, yet they just fail to step upon it. Even if you step upon it, you bury your own numinous nature and let down the ancient sages. Tell me, what land is it?" Striking the whisk: "When spring comes, the grass grows by itself."