虛堂和尚語錄 9.119

9.119

Ascending the hall to express thanks for holding the whisk at the summer retreat vegetarian feast, a monk asked: "It is recorded that a monk asked Yunmen, 'What is the place where all the Buddhas make their appearance?' Yunmen said, 'The East Mountain walks on water.' What is the meaning of this?" The Master said: "The tongue does not leave the mouth." The monk said: "Yuanwu said, 'Were it Tianning, it would not be so. What is the place where all the Buddhas make their appearance? I would just say to him: The balmy breeze comes from the south, bringing a faint chill to the palace halls.' How about this?" The Master said: "Not much difference either." The monk said: "Dahui heard this and immediately attained awakening; how about that?" The Master said: "Willing to plunge one's whole body into hell." The monk said: "If today someone suddenly asks the Upādhyāya, 'What is the place where all the Buddhas make their appearance?' I wonder how you would answer him?" The Master said: "At the three-way intersection, few people know." The monk bowed and said: "Thank you, Master, for answering the question." The Master said: "Striking empty space and listening for an echo."