景德傳燈錄 20.30

20.30

撫州曹山慧霞了悟大師（第二世住先住荷玉山）問。佛未出世時如何。師曰。曹山不如。曰佛出世後如何。師曰。不如曹山。問四山相逼時如何。師曰。曹山在裏許。曰還求出也無。師曰。若在裏許即求出。僧侍立師曰。道者可殺炎熱。曰是師曰。只如炎熱向什麼處迴避得。曰向鑊湯鑪炭裏迴避。師曰。只如鑊湯鑪炭。作麼生迴避得。曰眾苦不能到。師默置。

Master Huixia Liaowu of Mount Cao in Fuzhou (the second-generation abbot; he had previously resided at Mount Heyu). [A monk] asked, "How was it before the Buddha appeared in the world?"
The Master said, "Not as good as Mount Cao."
[The monk] asked, "How was it after the Buddha appeared in the world?"
The Master said, "Not as good as Mount Cao."
[A monk] asked, "How is it when the four mountains press in upon one?"
The Master said, "Mount Cao is right inside."
[The monk] asked, "Does it still seek to get out?"
The Master said, "If it is inside, then it seeks to get out."
A monk was standing in attendance. The Master said, "Practitioner, it is terribly sweltering."
[The attendant] said, "Yes."
The Master said, "Just as it is sweltering, where can one escape it?"
[The attendant] said, "Escape into the caldron of boiling water and the coals of the brazier."
The Master said, "Just as it is the caldron of boiling water and the coals of the brazier, how can one escape it?"
[The attendant] said, "The myriad sufferings cannot reach there."
The Master remained silent.