宏智禪師廣錄 3.101

3.101

舉趙州云。至道無難。唯嫌揀擇。纔有語言。是揀擇。是明白。老僧不在明白裏。是汝還護惜也無。時有僧問。和尚既不在明白裏。護惜箇什麼。州云。我亦不知。僧云。既不知為什麼。道不在明白裏。州云。問事即得。禮拜了退師云。這僧也如切如瑳。不能見機而變。趙州也如琢如磨。幾乎事不解交。眾中祇管道。退身有分。殊不知盡力提持。還體悉得麼。焦甎打著連底凍。

He cited: Zhaozhou said: “The ultimate way is without difficulty; it only avoids picking and choosing. As soon as there are words, they are picking and choosing, they are clarity. This old monk is not within clarity; do you still cherish it or not?” At that time a monk asked: “Since the Venerable is not within clarity, what do you cherish?” Zhou said: “I too do not know.” The monk said: “Since you do not know, why do you say you are not within clarity?” Zhou said: “Inquiring into the matter is enough. Make your prostrations and withdraw.” / The Master said: “This monk also cut and filed, yet could not discern the opportune moment and change; Zhaozhou also carved and polished, and nearly could not disengage from the affair. Those in the assembly just say that withdrawing was appropriate, completely failing to understand that he upheld it with all his might. Do you comprehend? A scorched brick strikes, and the frost freezes right to the bottom.”