Blue Cliff Record (Forty-eighth Case)

Translated by Thomas and J.C. Cleary:

When Minister Wang entered Chao Ch'ing, they were making tea. At the time Elder Lang was holding the kettle for Ming Chao. Lang turned the tea kettle over. Seeing this, the Minister asked the Elder, "What's under the tea stove?" Lang said, "The spirit who holds up stoves." The Minister said, "If it's the spirit who holds up stoves, why then did you turn over the tea kettle?" Lang said, "Serve as an official for a thousand days, lose it in a single morning." The minister shook out his sleeves and left.

Ming Chao said, "Elder Lang, you've eaten Chao Ch'ing food, but still you go beyond the river to make noise gathering charred wood." Lang said, "What about you, Teacher?" Ming Chao said, "The spirit got the advantage."

Hsueh Tou said, "At the time I just would have kicked over the tea stove."

Yuanwu: Phoney Ch'an men are (as numerous) as hemp seeds, as millet grains.

kphoover: /u/WanderingRoninXIII

Submitted November 21, 2019 at 10:42PM by kphoover https://ift.tt/336YX61