虛堂和尚語錄 8.48

8.48

Ascending the hall, [the master] cited: "Before Xinghua appeared in the world, he often said: 'I made a round of itinerant pilgrimage in the south, and the tip of my staff never once stirred up anyone who understood the Buddha Dharma.' Dajue heard of this and said: 'When will the wind of karma blow him into Dajue's gate?' One day Xinghua indeed arrived, and Dajue invited him to serve as monastery director. One day Dajue called out to the director: 'I hear you say that when on itinerant pilgrimage in the south, the tip of your staff never once stirred up anyone who understood the Buddha Dharma; what kind of eye do you possess?' Xinghua then shouted. Dajue took up his stick; Xinghua hesitated, and Dajue struck him. Xinghua shouted again, and Dajue struck him again. The next day, Xinghua passed in front of the Dharma hall; Dajue called the director: 'I have had continuous doubts about your two shouts yesterday; explain them to me.' Xinghua said: 'At Sansheng's place, I attained a phrase on guest and host, which was completely broken down by senior brother; I beg for an entry into peace and happiness.' Dajue said: 'This blind fellow, coming here to confess defeat!' Stripping off his monk's robe, he gave him a sound beating. Under Dajue's stick, Xinghua was suddenly enlightened and said: 'Only today do I know the meaning of the late master receiving the stick at Huangbo's place.'" The master said: "Taking a step from the top of a hundred-foot pole is not yet considered perilous; at that time, if the tip of Dajue's stick had lacked an active eye, Xinghua would not have managed to see the place of Linji's enlightenment either. Recently there is a sort of blind ass that does not distinguish fine from coarse, only shouting wildly and recklessly."