大慧普覺禪師宗門武庫 1.15

1.15

When Chan Master Xun of Mingshui in Fuzhou was in the attendants' quarters at Fayun, Chan Master Lin of Daolin registered for quarters. The abbot's quarters held a special tea for the newcomer. Xun personally went to the quarters to invite him, but it happened that Lin was not there. A traveling companion sharing a desk with Lin said, "You go on; wait until he comes, and I will invite him for you." Xun left, and the monk happened to forget. After the meal, the drum was sounded to gather for tea, but Lin did not arrive. Yuantong asked, "Is the newcomer present?" and urged that he be invited. When Lin arrived, Yuantong made him step back from the seating couch and stand, rebuking him before the assembly: "The monastery held a special tea to display the decorum of the monastic groves; why were you negligent and did not arrive on time?" Lin said, "Just when I heard the sound of the drum, I was suddenly pressed by nature and could not rush forward." Yuantong scolded him, "My drum is not croton seed; how does striking it make your feces come out?" Xun stepped forward and said, "It was I who forgot to invite him; I should be expelled from the monastery." At that time, the traveling companion stepped out from the assembly and said, "It has nothing to do with the attendant or the newcomer; it was improper for me to undertake inviting him on his behalf, and I happened to forget. I should be expelled from the monastery in place of the two of them." Yuantong esteemed their noble integrity and pardoned them both.