萬松老人評唱天童覺和尚頌古從容庵錄 1.106

1.106

Case: A monk asked Great Master Ma, "Free from the four propositions and cutting off the hundred negations, please, Master, point directly to me the meaning of coming from the West." (If you recognize this monk's opening question, how much mental effort it saves!)
The Great Master said, "I am tired and worn out today; I cannot explain it to you. (Already there is the moon inside the boat.) Go ask Zhizang." (Adding more wind to the sail.)
The monk asked Zang. (Receiving another's instructions instead.)
Zang said, "Why do you not ask the Venerable?" (Fine texts are mostly identical.)
The monk said, "The Venerable instructed me to come ask." (Deserving praise for his cleverness!)
Zang said, "I have a headache today; I cannot explain it to you. Go ask Brother Hai." (I cannot fail to be a disciple of Master Ma!)
The monk asked Hai. (A bitter gourd is bitter right to its root.)
Hai said, "Having reached here, I don't understand either." (A sweet melon is sweet right to its stem.)
The monk reported this to the Great Master. (Demanding payment for his straw sandals.)
The Great Master said, "Zang's head is white; Hai's head is black." (Study for another thirty years!)