無門關 1.89

1.89

One day, Deshan carried his bowl down to the hall. Seeing him, Xuefeng asked: "This old fellow—the bell has not yet rung, the drum has not yet sounded; carrying your bowl, where are you going?" Deshan thereupon returned to the abbot's quarters. Xuefeng brought this up to Yantou. Yantou said: "Even great Deshan has not understood the last word." Deshan heard of this and had his attendant summon Yantou. He asked: "Do you not approve of this old monk?" Yantou secretly disclosed his meaning; Deshan then desisted. The next day, when he ascended the hall, it was indeed not the same as usual. Yantou went before the monks' hall, clapped his hands, and laughed heartily, saying: "How joyful that the old fellow understands the last word! Henceforth, no one in the world can do anything about him."