虛堂和尚語錄 1.67

1.67

At the informal gathering for entering the summer retreat, a monk asked, "Deshan gave no answers at informal gatherings, giving thirty blows to anyone who asked a question. What was the intention behind this?" The Master said, "Drawing a tiger and ending up with a wildcat." The monk said, "Zhaozhou wished to answer questions at informal gatherings, saying, 'Bring forth a single question, anyone who has one.' What about that?" The Master said, "Grappling hooks and tangled ropes." The monk said, "Are the workings of Zhaozhou and Deshan merely the same?" The Master said, "Ghosts fighting over a lacquer bucket." The monk said, "Before Niutou saw the Fourth Patriarch, why did hundreds of birds peck flowers in their beaks to offer to him?" The Master said, "In Wuling, spring comes early; on the terraces and pavilions, green shade is abundant." The monk said, "After he saw him, why did the hundreds of birds not peck flowers to offer?" The Master said, "A broken mirror does not reflect again; fallen blossoms can hardly return to the branch." The monk said, "What skillful means is there for a student like me relying upon the Upādhyāya this summer?" The Master said, "Coarse porridge and plain rice, passing the time according to one's lot." The monk said, "If one does not climb the tower to look, how can one know the depth of the vast sea?" The Master said, "The thief is a member of the family."