景德傳燈錄 19.14

19.14

Chan Master Qifan of Nanshan [Monastery] in Fuzhou ascended the hall and said, 'If it is famous words and wondrous phrases, the various quarters have already said them all. Today, in this assembly, is there anyone who transcends the primary meaning and can offer a single phrase? If there is, then one does not fail others.' At that time, a monk asked, 'What is the primary meaning?' The master said, 'Why don't you ask about the primary meaning?' [The monk] said, 'I am asking right now.' The master said, '[You have] already fallen into the secondary meaning.' [A monk] asked, 'The tune of the ancient Buddhas—please, Master, join in harmony with it.' The master said, 'I do not harmonize with your confused mess.' [The monk] said, 'I do not know: for what kind of person would you harmonize?' The master said, 'Where did you go and come from?'