虛堂和尚語錄 9.52

9.52

Ascending the hall for opening the stove, he cited: "Zhaozhou's talk on 'at the stove there is no host and guest' has for many years had no one to bring it up. What about Jingshan's talk on 'at the stove there is no host and guest'? Every day we only manage disputes: casting the porridge cauldron, building the bathhouse, stretching hides over the Dharma drum, constructing river boats—just passing the time like this, when would there be leisure to bring up the talk at the stove? Next spring we also must erect a monks' hall, relocate the attendants' hall, and establish the rankings of postulants. In such a season, how could one shut the gates and do one's work?"