虛堂和尚語錄 9.111

9.111

Ascending the hall on the Buddha's nirvāṇa day, a monk asked: "'Offering this body and mind to dust-like realms—this is called repaying the Buddha's benevolence.'" The master said: "You alone are a descendant guilty of the five heinous deeds." The monk said: "When the World-Honoured One was about to enter nirvāṇa, he stroked his chest with his hand and addressed the great assembly: 'Observe well my purple-tinged golden body; today it exists, tomorrow it will not. Gaze upon it to your fill; do not leave behind future regret.' What is the meaning of this?" The master said: "Looking at the water's edge from a high cliff—a special cause for sorrow." The monk said: "Thus the great assembly of humans and devas all shed tears; only Pāpīmān leaped with joy. What about this?" The master said: "A sweet melon is sweet to its stem; a bitter gourd is bitter to its root." The monk said: "Tell me, whose disciple is Pāpīmān?" The master said: "He is the Buddha's disciple." The monk said: "Since he is the Buddha's disciple, why then did he leap with joy?" The master said: "The Santai dance requires everyone to urge it on." The monk said: "Today if suddenly a fellow comes out to assist in mourning, what about that?" The master said: "He is not of my kin." The monk bowed.