虛堂和尚語錄 8.25

8.25

Informal gathering on New Year's Eve, a monk asked, "A Chan pauper thinks morning and night, and arrives at the turning of the year. Beichan boiled the white ox on the open ground; what will Shuanglin use to divide the year?" The master said, "A diamond cage and a chestnut burr." The monk said, "That surpasses Beichan's family tradition by far." The master said, "How will you swallow it?" The monk said, "A hundred shattered fragments." The master said, "A second offense will not be tolerated." The monk said, "Fachang also said, 'Year-end snow connects to heaven in white, cold wind presses upon the doors in chill.' What about that?" The master said, "He too stands with folded hands behind Beichan." The monk said, "Let the upādhyāya produce a phrase surpassing Beichan and let us see." The master said, "Gold naturally has the price of gold." The monk said, "That too is buying a hat to match the head." The master said, "You tested it precisely."