Sayings of Nanquan, 1.6

1.6

師住庵時。有一僧來。When the Master was residing in a hut, a monk came.
師云。某甲上山作務。The Master said, "There's someone up the mountain I need to take care of.
齋時上座做飯喫了。At mealtime, head seat,¹ cook rice and eat.
却送一分來。[Afterwards] however, come deliver a portion to me."
其僧齋時做飯喫了。That monk, during mealtime, cooked rice and ate.
將家具一時打破。A moment later, [he began] breaking and smashing [the Master's] furniture.
就床而臥。[Then he] accommodated himself to the bed and lied down.
師伺不來。The Master awaited [the monk, but he] didn't arrive.
遂歸。見僧偃臥。Thereupon [the Master] returned [and] discovered the monk lying on his back.
師亦去身邊臥。The Master went beside him and lied down too.
僧便起去。The monk then got up and left.
師云。得恁麼靈利。The Master said, "Alright, very clever."
師住後云。我往前住庵時。有箇靈利道者。Later, the Master residing [elsewhere] said, "Formerly, when I resided in a hut, there was a one [with a] clever way [about him].
直至如今不見。To this day, [I have] not met [him again/his equal]."

Note:
1. The term 上座 (head seat) is the position of the highest ranking monk, but can also can be used generally as a respectful title to refer to a person of higher status, or seniority.

Submitted February 22, 2023 at 05:39AM by Surska0 https://ift.tt/Vkvfhg9