勅修百丈清規 2.77

2.77

人天寶鑑云。湖南雲蓋山智禪師夜坐丈室。忽聞焦灼氣枷鎖聲。即而視之。迺有荷火枷者。火猶起滅不停。枷尾倚於門閫。智驚問曰。汝為誰苦至斯極耶。荷枷者對曰。前住當山守顒也。不合互將檀越供僧物造僧堂。故受此苦。智曰。作何方便可免。顒曰。望為估直僧堂填設僧供。可免爾。智以己貲如其言為償之。一夕夢顒謝曰。賴師力獲免地獄苦。生人天中。三生後復得為僧。今門閫燒痕猶存。然顒公以供僧物作僧堂。皆僧受用。尚受互用之報。若此今叢林撥無因果。非唯互用。甚至竊常住為己有者。宜何如哉。

The Precious Mirror of Humans and Devas says: Chan Master Zhi of Mount Yunggai in Hunan was sitting at night in the abbot's quarters, when suddenly he smelled a scorching odor and heard the sound of a cangue and chains. Drawing near to look, there was someone wearing a flaming cangue, with flames constantly flaring up and dying down, and the end of the cangue resting against the door threshold. Zhi asked in astonishment: 'Who are you, to suffer such an extreme torment?' The one wearing the cangue replied: 'I am Shourong, former abbot of this mountain. Improperly diverting the items donated by patrons to feed the monks in order to construct the Sangha hall, I therefore suffer this torment.' Zhi asked: 'By what expedient means can you be freed?' Rong said: 'I hope you will appraise the value of the Sangha hall and replenish and provide the offerings for the monks; only then can I be freed.' Using his own wealth, Zhi compensated for it according to his words. One night, he dreamed that Rong thanked him, saying: 'Relying on the Master's power, I have obtained release from the torments of hell and have been born among humans and devas; after three lifetimes, I will again become a monk.' The scorch marks on the door threshold still remain today. Now, Venerable Rong used goods meant for feeding monks to build a Sangha hall, all for the monks' use and enjoyment, yet he still suffered such retribution for diverting funds. If this is so, how much worse will it be for those in monastic groves today who dismiss cause and effect, who not only divert funds, but even steal property of the permanent abode to make it their own?