虛堂和尚語錄 3.64

3.64

He brought up again: "Mihu visited Attendant Wang while he was deciding official business. As soon as the attendant saw him, he raised his brush and showed it to him. Mihu said, 'Can you still judge empty space?' The attendant threw down the brush and returned to the inner quarters. Mihu was puzzled. The next day, through [Monk] Huayan, he arranged tea and posed the question: 'What words did Venerable Mihu speak that he could not see you?' The attendant said, 'A lion bites people, while a Korean hound chases a clod of earth.' When Mihu heard this, he came out, laughed heartily, and said, 'I understand.' The attendant said, 'Try to say it.' Mihu said, 'Please bring it up, Attendant.' The attendant then held up a chopstick. Mihu said, 'Wild fox spirit!' The attendant said, 'This fellow has penetrated through.'" The Master said: "At that time, as soon as Mihu saw the brush raised, had he immediately entered the guest quarters, he would certainly have been a treasure at the banquet. Without cause, setting up a tea reception again entangled Huayan so that his forehead hit the ground. But when the attendant said, 'This fellow has penetrated through,' where was it that he penetrated? Try to utter a turning word."