虛堂和尚語錄 8.4

8.4

"The Xingsheng place of the Way, the site where Xiaozong was born; the head monk of Lingyin, invited by the Prime Minister's official missive. Delighted by the contiguous shade of wall and bamboo, how would we dare delay the county's floral dispatch? We respectfully consider that the newly appointed elder, Chan Master Xutang, has hills and valleys in his breast, his footprints spanning rivers and lakes. In Old Xiao's face there was always a blade; how could he allow concealing the point or retracting the edge? Willing to take on freight in the boat at the alternate inlet, he certainly will not drag through water or trail through mud. If he is made to stage his performance on this spot, it will surely be unprecedented and unrepeatable. We pray he will yield to the congregation's request, quickly bestowing a visit. Loosening our belt to see Master Yuan off, though we laugh at the bluntness of our arrow's point; buying wine to lead Magistrate Tao along, how would we dare decline the covenant of the Lotus Society?"