虛堂和尚語錄 8.95

8.95

Ascending the hall, he cited: "Because a monastic garden director asked Liangshan, 'What about when the domestic thief is hard to guard against?' Liangshan said: 'Recognizing him, he is not an enemy.' The monk said: 'What about after recognizing him?' Liangshan said: 'Banish him to the land of no-birth.' The monk said: 'Is that not his place of settling body and establishing life?' Liangshan said: 'Dead water does not harbor dragons.' The monk said: 'What is a dragon in living water?' Liangshan said: 'Raising billows without making waves.' The monk said: 'What about when he suddenly overturns pools and topples peaks?' Liangshan stepped down from his seat, grasped the monk's hand, and said: 'Do not let him wet the corner of this old monk's kāṣāya.'" The Master said: "Coming as the vanguard, departing as the rearguard. Were it not for orders emerging from within heavy encirclement, how could one see the total defeat of the grass bandits? Even so, tell me, does this monk acquiesce or not?" He struck with his whisk.