景德傳燈錄 20.40

20.40

Chan Master Shenzhe of Mount Hanzhu in Xiangzhou. A monk asked, "What is the deepest place?"
The Master said, "An inch-long nail driven into wood cannot be pulled out by eight oxen."
[The monk] asked, "What is the correct Dharma eye?"
The Master said, "The divine statue in front of the monastery gate."
[The monk] asked, "What is the great meaning of the Buddha Dharma?"
The Master said, "A poor woman carrying her child crosses [the river]; affection and love race along with the current."
The Master asked a monk, saying, "'Being' is not it; 'non-being' is not it; 'neither being nor non-being' is not it either. What is your original name?"
[The monk] said, "The student already has a name."
The Master said, "Having a name is not non-being; what is it named?"
[The monk] said, "Is just this it, or not?"
The Master said, "Fortunately, there is no connection."
[The monk] said, "What would make it right?"
The Master said, "At the most intimate place, please ask once more."
[The monk] said, "The student cannot say; please let the Upādhyāya speak."
The Master said, "Come another day, and I will speak to you."
[The monk] said, "Why not speak right now?"
The Master said, "Seeking someone who grasps the words cannot be done."
The Master also asked a monk, "Surnamed Wang, Zhang, or Li are all not it. What is your original surname?"
[The monk] said, "The same surname as the Upādhyāya."
The Master said, "Granted that it is the same surname, what is your original surname?"
[The monk] said, "Wait until the Han River flows backward, then I will tell the Upādhyāya."
The Master said, "Why not speak right now?"
[The monk] said, "Has the Han River flowed backward yet?"
The Master then rested.