Nanquan sells his body

Nanquan said to an assembly, “I’m selling off my body —is there anyone who will buy?” (1)

One monk came forth from the group and said, “I’ll buy.” (2)

Nanquan said, “It’s not expensive, not cheap —how will you buy it?” (3)

The monk had nothing to say. (4)

Wolong said in his stead, “You belong to me.” (5)

Heshan said in his stead, “What principle is this?” (6)

Zhaozhou said, “Next year I’ll make you a shirt.” (7)

Xuedou said, “Though experts compete to buy, they don’t understand they’ve missed the opportunity. Tell me, will Nanquan agree? (8) I too would try to meet the price, causing Nanquan to have no way forward and nowhere to retreat. (9) Not expensive, not cheap —how to buy? (10) You can’t fit in anywhere else.” (11)

Yuanwu's Notes:

(1) Strange!(2) He’s hooked one.(3) Very confusing.(4) Too bad.(5) Taken in.(6) He cannot reverse the stipulations.(7) This statement is most poisonous.(8) Even if he agrees, he’s still at the foot of the stairs.(9) Don’t brag so much.(10) Look—what skill does Xuedou have?(11) I thought it would be somewhat extraordinary.

Yuanwu's Commentary:

Assign this board-carrying hireling to the stable. Wolong said, “The master belongs to me.” Heshan said there is no comparison in the world. Zhaozhou runs with broad steps, punching and kicking, taking him in hand. It is hard to get ahold of him. When the wheel of potential turns, even experts get lost. Therefore an ancient said that a transcendental presentation cannot be figured out in terms of senses and objects. Xuedou said, “You can’t fit in anywhere else.” As for “missed opportunity,” Librarian Qing said “He still tears the others down himself.”

- Measuring Tap, Case 81

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Quite the crew in this old case! Why is Zhaouzhou's line about the shirt "most poisonous"? I wonder what that shirt weighs...

"A transcendental presentation cannot be figured out in terms of senses and objects." Yeah, I like that line. :D

Submitted September 14, 2020 at 11:34AM by madewithsticks https://ift.tt/35zuceI