萬松老人評唱天童覺和尚頌古從容庵錄 5.36

5.36

Case: Yangshan asked Zhongyi, "What is the meaning of Buddha-nature?" (This lecturing master is indeed capable of debate.) Zhongyi said, "I will tell you an analogy: (Fit for the provisional, not the real.) it is like a room with six windows, with a monkey placed inside. (Will it agree to be quiet?) Outside, someone calls, 'Xingxing!' and the monkey immediately responds. (Coming again, it's not worth half a coin.) In this way, across all six windows, wherever called, it responds." (One only needs the sweetheart to recognize the voice.) Yangshan said, "Just when the monkey is asleep, how is it then?" (Do not speak sleep-talk.) Zhongyi thereupon stepped down from the meditation bench, took hold of him, and said, (Has he awakened or not?) "Xingxing, you and I meet face to face!" (Why didn't you say so earlier?)