宏智禪師廣錄 3.63

3.63

舉南泉垂語云。王老師。牧一頭水牯牛。擬向溪東去。不免官家苗稅。擬向溪西去。不免官家苗稅。爭如隨分納些些。總不見得。師云。南泉牧牛。可謂奇特。直得一切處關防不得。為什麼如此。是他隨分納些些。

[Hongzhi] cited: Nanquan gave the instructional remark: "Teacher Wang tends a water ox. If he intends to go east of the stream, he cannot avoid the government grain tax; if he intends to go west of the stream, he cannot avoid the government grain tax. How can that compare to paying a little bit according to one's lot? Then he will never be seen at all." The Master [Hongzhi] said, "Nanquan's tending of the ox may be called extraordinary: in all places, he could not be guarded against. Why was it like this? Because he paid a little bit according to his lot."