Sayings of Nanquan, 1.5

1.5

師刈茆次。Once, [while] the Master was cutting grass,
有僧問。南泉路向甚麼處去。a monk asked, "What is the path to get to Nanquan's dwelling place?"¹
師竪起鎌云。我這鎌子是三十文買。The Master raised up his scythe and said, "I bought this scythe for 30 coins."
僧云。我不問這箇。南泉路向甚麼處去。The monk said, "I didn't ask about that. What is the path to get to Nanquan's dwelling place?"
師云。我用得最快。The Master said, "My expenditures befit the sharpest."²

Notes:
1. 路 (path) means 'road', but can also mean 'way; means'. 處 (dwelling place) means 'place' as in a location, but can also mean 'be situated in; be in a certain condition', so the monk’s question can also be taken to mean 'what are the means to become situated in Nanquan's present condition?'
2. This line is a triple-play on words. 用 (expenditure) means 'expense; outlay' in the financial sense, but aslo 'usefulness'. The phrase 最快 (sharpest) literally means 'most swift', with the character 快 meaning 'quick-witted; nimble; clever; swift-minded', but also (of a knife, sword, etc.) 'sharp'. Nanquan is simultaneously declaring that he himself is a savvy shopper, that he only buys the sharpest sythes, and that the monk is too slow-witted to recognize the 'usefulness' of his first reply.

Submitted February 20, 2023 at 05:31PM by Surska0 https://ift.tt/UtdfAmx