The Measuring Tap: Case #17 Deshan's "What?"

Bought this kindle book after Ewk recommending it in his regular posts.

The case I was drawn to was this:

17. Deshan’s “What”

A monk asked Deshan, “Where have the sages since antiquity gone?” (Why not give his own fodder?)

A question that is asked with the voice of another. Formed with another's lips.

Deshan said, “What? What?” (He cheats everyone.)

Two pairs of eyes tear up, one from laughter and one from surprise.

The monk said, “The order specified a ‘flying dragon’ horse, but a lame tortoise shows up.” (He’s already fallen into the other’s snare.)

Dragon horse? Lame tortoise? Offering nothing up, the monk is caught in the snare of his own imagining.

Deshan then stopped. (This mechanism is most poisonous.)

Stopping, he leave the monk with his toys.

The next day when Deshan came out of the bath, that monk handed him some tea. Deshan patted that monk on the back. (Try to say what he meant.)

The trained dog comes at the sound of a whistle.

The monk said, “This old fellow has finally gotten a glimpse.” (The first arrow was still shallow; the subsequent arrow went deep.)

It seems the whistle didn't lure the dog. The whistle sounded precisely when the dog arrived. The dog bearing tea.

Xuedou brought this up and said, “So pure gold is refined a hundred times—you need your own tongs and hammer. (He mislabels.)

Carry your own tools. Rely not on the tools of others. Refining a hundred times? Refined. Unrefined. Refinement is not in stages.

Since Deshan had compared another to himself, this monk is likewise disappointed too.” (The crimes are listed on the same indictment.)

Crimes originating from crime. Violence begets violence. Seperation creates distinction.

Drawing a line with his staff, he said, “Leaving this case aside for the moment, (See what skills Xuedou has.) where have the sages since antiquity gone?” (If there is someone who overturns the Chan seat, what then?)

Seperate the case. What sages? What going? Speak as if your life depends on it.

As the assembly was about to discuss it, Xuedou chased them out all at once. (Striking, I say you should take it instead of the assembly.)

An empty hall. A full answer. An empty answer. A full hall.

Anything you'd like to share or say about this case?

Submitted August 31, 2022 at 10:27PM by Turbulent_Highway_51 https://ift.tt/X4IYPCM