禪林寶訓 4.14

4.14

月堂住淨慈最久。或謂。和尚行道經年。門下未聞有弟子。得不辜妙湛乎。月堂不對。他日再言之。月堂曰。子不聞。昔人種瓜而愛甚者。盛夏之日方中而灌之瓜不旋踵而淤敗何也。其愛之非不勤。然灌之不以時。適所以敗之也。諸方老宿提挈衲子。不觀其道業內充才器宏遠。止欲速其為人。逮審其道德則淫污。察其言行則乖戾。謂其公正則邪佞。得非愛之過其分乎。是正猶日中之灌瓜也。予深恐識者笑。故不為也（北山記聞）。

Yuetang stayed at Jingci for the longest time. Someone said, "The Master has practiced the Way for years, yet we have not heard of him having disciples under his gate. Does this not let down Miaozhan?" Yuetang did not reply. Another day, the person spoke of it again. Yuetang said: "Have you not heard? In the past, there was a man who grew melons and loved them dearly. In the height of summer, right at midday, he watered them; before he could even turn on his heel, the melons rotted and failed. Why was this? His love for them was by no means unflagging, but he watered them out of season, precisely causing them to fail. When senior elders of various quarters promote patch-robed monks, they do not observe whether their practice of the Way is filled within, or whether their talents and capacities are grand and far-reaching. They only desire to make them into men quickly. When one investigates their the Way and virtue, they are licentious and defiled; when one examines their words and deeds, they are perverse; when one deems them just and upright, they turn out to be crooked and flattering. Is this not loving them beyond measure? This is just like watering melons at midday. I deeply fear the mockery of those with discernment, and therefore I do not do it." (Beishan jiwen)