虛堂和尚語錄 3.74

3.74

Ascending the hall, a monk asked, "An udumbara flower is easily seen, but a good friend is difficult to encounter. Now that a student has come forward, please, Upādhyāya, offer wishes for the Emperor's longevity." The Master answered, "Step out to the other side of King of Awesome Sound and look." The monk asked, "When Baoshou opened the hall, Sansheng pushed forward a monk, and Baoshou immediately struck him. What was the intention behind this?" The Master answered, "Though the road through Jian'ge is perilous, nighttime travelers are still more numerous." The monk asked, "Sansheng said, 'Acting like this for a person not only blinds this monk's eyes, but blinds the eyes of the people of the entire city of Zhenzhou.' Baoshou threw down his staff and returned to the abbot's quarters. What about that?" The Master answered, "Take up the golden needle again and sew stitch by tight stitch." The monk asked, "Today the Upādhyāya opens the hall to offer wishes for the Emperor's longevity; if someone suddenly pushed forward a monk, what would happen?" The Master answered, "Burning cow-dung incense to make offerings to him would not be beyond reason." The monk asked, "Why is it so?" The Master answered, "Because he is a genuine patch-robed monk." The monk bowed.