虛堂和尚語錄 1.41

1.41

The master took his seat. A monk asked: "The golden rooster crows at dawn, the jade phoenix holds a flower in its beak; the court parasols attend the banquet—we ask the master to pray for the Emperor." The master said: "The single-horned qilin climbs the sea island; the nine-hued phoenix dances on the spirit mountain." The monk said: "Sansheng said, 'Whenever I meet someone, I step out; stepping out, I do not act for the sake of the person.' What is the meaning of this?" The master said: "Dig into the ground and bury it deep." The monk said: "Xinghua said, 'Whenever I meet someone, I do not step out; stepping out, I immediately act for the sake of the person.' What about this?" The master said: "A fishing line tangles the water." The monk said: "What auspicious sign is there when the Vice Minister Prefect invites the upādhyāya to open the hall and expound the Dharma, seeing you into the monastery?" The master said: "It alarms the people of the whole city." The monk said: "Is there still any acting for the sake of people?" The master said: "Only under your skin is there no blood." The monk said: "Were it not for the geese of the night, how could one see autumn at Haimen?" He then made prostrations.