虛堂和尚語錄 9.47

9.47

He also cited: "Huangbo, when Linji came up the mountain to pay respects and stayed for several days before taking his leave, said: 'You broke the summer retreat to come; why not finish the summer retreat before leaving?' Linji said: 'I came briefly to pay respects.' Huangbo struck him and ordered him to leave. Linji walked a few li, doubted the matter, and returned to finish the summer retreat." The master took this up and said: "If Linji had gone at that time and not returned, leaving Huangbo hanging the drum and waiting for the mallet, he would have had a bit of a patch-robed monk's air. For no reason he returned to finish the summer retreat, just like salt falling into soy sauce again. Tell me, where is the mistake?" Striking the whisk, he said: "Thinking it would not be so, now indeed it is so."