虛堂和尚語錄 1.76

1.76

Ascending the hall, he cited: "When Hanshanzi saw the monks roasting eggplants, he struck a monk on the back with a skewer of eggplants. The monk turned his head, and Hanshan held up the skewer of eggplants, saying, 'What is this?' The monk said, 'A lunatic!' Hanshan then turned to a neighboring monk and said, 'Tell me, how much salt and sauce did this monk waste?'" The Master said, "One who underestimates the opponent perishes; did that monk accept it? If Bao'en had seen him hold up the skewer of eggplants and say, 'What is this?', I would have struck a listening pose. At any hesitation, I would snatch the eggplant skewer and strike him at once."