禪林寶訓 1.8

1.8

Mingjiao said: “When Master Dajue Lian resided at Ayuwang, two monks were quarreling incessantly over alms, and the administrator could not settle the matter. Dajue called them over and rebuked them, saying: ‘In the past, when Lord Bao was magistrate of Kaifeng, a commoner came forward stating, “A man who entrusted one hundred ounces of silver to me has died. Now I am returning it to his family, but his son will not accept it. I hope your lordship will summon his son and return it to him.” The Lord, sighing in admiration, summoned his son and spoke to him. The son declined, saying, “During my late father’s lifetime, he never secretly deposited silver with another family.” The two stubbornly deferred to one another for a long time. The Lord had no choice but to order it entrusted to a monastery in the city to perform rituals for post-mortem blessings, dedicating them to the deceased. I witnessed this matter with my own eyes. Even people in the midst of worldly toil can still make light of wealth and admire righteousness like this; you, as disciples of the Buddha, fail to recognize shame to such an extent!’ Thereupon, in accordance with the monastic regulation, he expelled them.” (*Extensive Record of the Western Lake*)