宏智禪師廣錄 3.9

3.9

[The Master] cited Xiangyan providing a phrase to his assembly: "It is like a person up a tree, holding a branch in his mouth, with his hands grasping no branch and his feet resting on no tree. Someone below asks about the meaning of [the Patriarch's] coming from the West. If he does not answer, he ignores the other's question; if he does answer, he loses his life. Just at such a time, how should it be handled?" Head Monk Hutou said, "I do not ask about being up in the tree; please tell me, Master, before climbing the tree." Xiangyan burst out into hearty laughter. Xuedou said, "To speak while up in the tree is easy; to speak while beneath the tree is difficult. The old monk has climbed the tree. Bring forth a question!" The Master said, "Head Monk Hutou was a wicked thief: using a lawless hand, he struck an unprepared house. Even an authentic master craftsman would often fail to discern his maneuver. Xuedou was a fellow who recognized occasion and timing, knowing fortune and disaster; when arriving here, he could only hide his body and reveal his shadow. Do you understand where Xiangyan acted? Where are the three thousand swordsmen today? Only Zhuang Zhou is allowed to see the great peace."