禪林寶訓 2.72

2.72

Master Zhe'weng Yan said: "This letter is truly an imperial pardon posted before the court of Old Man Yama! I do not know how the eyes of the Way of those in various places today regard it; if one can truly receive and uphold this letter, one will gain great strength from it in days to come." Zhe'weng would often cite this to show people. Can of Yinshan also said: "The money and grain of the permanent property of the saṃgha, aside from providing for the assembly, are almost like deadly poison. The moment an abbot or those in charge of its income and expenditures are tainted by it, their whole body festers and rots. The Vinaya texts record this in detail. The ancients took money to the storehouse to purchase ginger to boil medicine—this can indeed be seen. Those who occupy the abbot's quarters today not only scrape the contents from the bowls of the assembly to indulge their own palates, but also use it to maintain non-standard personal connections. What is worse, they carve out funds to search for and buy rarities and curiosities, widely currying personal favors in the hope of being promoted to a great monastery. I only fear that in days to come, iron-faced Old Man Yama will settle accounts with them!"