大慧普覺禪師宗門武庫 1.10

1.10

Venerable Yexian Sheng was austere, cold, withered, and plain, so patch-robed monks revered and feared him. When Fushan Yuan and Tianyi Huai were among the assembly, they specially went to call upon and question him. It was just during the freezing snow; Sheng scolded, cursed, and drove them out, even throwing water into the transient quarters so that their robes were all soaked. The other monks all left in anger, but Yuan and Huai alone folded their spreadings, adjusted their robes, and sat back down in the transient quarters. Sheng came up and scolded them, "If you still do not leave, I will strike you." Yuan stepped forward and said, "The two of us have traveled several thousand li specially to investigate the Venerable's Chan. How could we leave just because a ladle of water was thrown on us? Even if you beat us to death, we would not leave." Sheng laughed and said, "If the two of you want to investigate Chan, go register for quarters." Later he invited Yuan to serve as cook. The assembly suffered from his withered plainness. When Sheng happened to go out to the estate, Yuan secretly took the key, fetched oil and flour, and made five-flavor porridge. When the porridge was done, Sheng suddenly returned and joined the meal in the hall. After the porridge, he sat outside the hall and ordered the cook to be summoned. When Yuan arrived, he confessed first, "I indeed took the oil and flour to cook the porridge; I willingly beg the Venerable to punish me." Sheng ordered the cost to be calculated, assessed the value of his robes and bowl to repay it fully, struck him thirty blows with the staff, and expelled him from the monastery. Yuan stayed in the marketplace and entrusted friends in the Dharma to plead for him, but Sheng refused. He further said, "If you will not allow me to return, I only ask to follow the assembly into the room." He also refused. One day, while walking in the street, Sheng saw Yuan standing alone in front of an inn, and said, "These are monastery lodgings. You have stayed here so long; have you ever paid the rent?" He ordered the arrears to be calculated and recovered. Yuan showed no sign of hardship; carrying his bowl in the marketplace, he begged for money and repaid it. On another day, Sheng went out into the street again and saw him carrying his bowl. Returning, he said to the assembly, "Yuan is truly intent on investigating Chan." He then called him back.