虛堂和尚語錄 5.95

5.95

Xuefeng asked a monk, "Where have you come from?" The monk said, "From Zhezhong." Xuefeng said, "Did you come by boat or by land?" The monk said, "I did not take either route." Xuefeng said, "How did you get here?" The monk said, "What obstruction is there?" Xuefeng struck him and drove him out. After ten years, the monk came again. Xuefeng asked again, "Where have you come from?" The monk said, "From Hunan." Xuefeng said, "How far apart are Hunan and here?" The monk said, "They are not separated." Xuefeng held up his whisk and said, "Is this separated, then?" The monk said, "If it were separated, I would not have arrived." Xuefeng struck him again and drove him out. After the monk became an abbot, whenever he saw anyone, he would revile Xuefeng. A companion heard of this and went to ask, "Brother, when you went to Xuefeng, what words were there that you revile him like this?" The monk cited the previous story. He was reprimanded and scolded by the companion, who explained it clearly to him. At that, he wept sorrowfully, and often at midnight burned incense and bowed from afar toward Xuefeng.