.
When the action is like lightning, it is futile to stand there thinking;
when the thunder booms in the the sky, it is too late to cover your ears.
To fly the red banner of victory overhead and whirl the twin swords
behind the ears, you need discernment of eye and familiarity of hand.
Some lower their heads and stand there thinking, trying to figure
conceptually; they don't realize they are seeing innumerable ghosts
in front of their skulls. Now tell me, without getting trapped
in the conceptual facility, without getting stuck in gain and loss,
if something is brought up to awaken you, how do you respond?
Secrets of the Blue Cliff Record, trans. Thomas Cleary
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