Isan's Laughter

The Reading:

Shoyoroku - Case 87: Sozan: With or Without

Sozan came to Isan and asked, 
  "I have heard that you said, 'Words of being and words of non-being are just
   like wisteria wound around a tree.' If suddenly the tree falls down and the
   wisteria withers, where will the words go?"

Isan burst into great laughter. Sozan said,
  "I sold my clothes and other belongings, and made an arduous journey of one
   thousand miles to come to you. Why does Your Reverence make light of me?"

Isan called his attendant and said, 
  "Bring some money and give it to this reverend monk for his travel expenses."
Finally he said,"Some day a one-eyed dragon will let you open your eyes."

Later Sozan went to Myosho and told him about this. 

Myosho said,"I can say that Isan is completely right, but he did not meet one who could appreciate him."

Sozan asked again,"If the tree falls down and the wisteria withers, where will the words go?"

Myosho said, "It would make Isan laugh again all the more."

Upon hearing this, Sozan gained realization. Then he said,
  "From the beginning, there was a sword behind Isan's laughter."

Discussion:

First sell all your cloths and other belongings, then hear the laughter, then receive a death blow from the Swords that Makes Alive Again.  Isan was too kind!  His laughter was Sozan's medicine.