虛堂和尚語錄 3.35

3.35

Ascending the hall on the Lantern Festival to thank the monastery officers, a monk asked: "'There are phrases, there are no phrases, like vines leaning on a tree.' What is the meaning of this?" The master said: "Scooping water, the moon is in the hands; handling flowers, fragrance fills the robe." The monk said: "When the tree falls and the vines wither, where do the phrases return?" The master said: "Throwing away yellow gold, holding up a green brick." The monk said: "Guishan laid down the mud plate and laughed heartily—how about that?" The master said: "Before heaven is complete, hell is already formed."