禪林寶訓 2.14

2.14

Lingyuan said to Grand Historian Huang: 'The ancients said: "To hold fire and place it under a pile of firewood, and then sleep on top of it; because the fire has not yet ignited, one considers oneself secure." This is truly an analogy for the turning point between security and danger. The principle of life and death is as clear as the bright sun, not allowing a hair's breadth of delay. People in their everyday leisure rarely take life and death, misfortune and disaster into consideration. Once an unforeseen calamity arises, only then do they stamp their feet and wring their hands; but in trying to remedy it, they will ultimately be unable to succeed.' (*Bitie*).