萬松老人評唱天童覺和尚頌古從容庵錄 3.50

3.50

The Master said: King Milinda asked the Venerable Nāgasena, 'I wish to raise a question; can the Master answer?' Nāgasena said, 'Please ask your question, O King.' The King said, 'I have already asked.' Nāgasena said, 'I have already answered.' The King said, 'What did the Master answer?' Nāgasena said, 'What did the King ask?' The King said, 'I asked nothing.' Nāgasena said, 'I answered nothing.' This can still be investigated. Where Yunmen asked was like lightning flashing in a clear sky; where Qianfeng answered was like rolling thunder on dry land. When it came to both releasing and both taking back, they were seen to have head and tail. This is why if one is not a patch-robed monk one cannot know it; if one is not an adept one cannot see it. Venerable Tiantong entered deeply into this gate. The verse says: