禪林寶訓 2.46

2.46

Fojian said to Reverend Longya Cai: "If you wish to reform the abuses of your predecessors, you must not eliminate them precipitously. You must reform them according to circumstances, causing petty men not to be suspicious; then there will likely be no resentment. I have often said: 'Abbotship has three secrets: discernment of affairs, competence in execution, and decisive resolution.' If one of the three is lacking, discernment of affairs will not be clear, and one will eventually be treated with contempt by petty men, leading the abbot's office to fall into decline."