景德傳燈錄 10.6

10.6

A monk asked, "Just as on the top of a hundred-foot pole, how does one take a step forward?"
The Master said, "The mountains of Langzhou, the waters of Lizhou."
The monk said, "Please explain, Master."
The Master said, "The four seas and five lakes are within the imperial transformation."
A guest came to call. The Master addressed him, saying, "Minister!"
The man answered, "Yes?"
The Master said, "That is not the Minister's original life-destiny."
He replied, "Apart from right now answering, there cannot be a second master."
The Master said, "Would it do to call the Minister the Supreme Emperor?"
He said, "When in this manner I do not answer at all, is that not this disciple's master?"
The Master said, "Not only when answering or not answering—from beginningless kalpas it is the root of birth and death."
He had a verse that said: