虛堂和尚語錄 9.110

9.110

The master then brought up: "Thirteenth Mistress Zheng accompanied a nun up to Guishan. Guishan said: 'Where does the reverend nun live?' The nun said: 'I live by the river at Nantai.' Guishan shouted her out, then said: 'The old woman behind—where does she live?' Thirteenth Mistress stood forward with crossed hands. Guishan asked again, and Thirteenth Mistress said: 'I presented it clearly long ago.' Guishan said: 'Go.' The two went to the Dharma Hall. The nun said: 'Thirteenth Mistress usually says, "I understand Chan," with a mouth like a sharp sword; today when asked by the Great Master, you had not a single word to reply.' Thirteenth Mistress said: 'How bitter, how bitter! With eyes like this, you also say you are on an itinerant pilgrimage! You should take off your skirt and robe and give them to Thirteenth Mistress to wear.'" Raising the case, [the master] said: "An ancient said: 'Taking it seriously, one cannot preserve wholeness, yet one is still checked by others.' How much more so for one who has not yet forgotten her own views! Mindful that she was a bodhisattva of the first stage, I did not wish to interrogate her."