勅修百丈清規 3.62

3.62

住持如年老有疾。或心力疲倦。或緣不順自宜知退常住錢物。須要簿書分明。方丈什物點對交割具單目一樣兩本。住持兩序勤舊僉押。用寺記印。住持庫司各收一本為照。公請一人看守方丈。至退日上堂敘謝辭眾下座。撾鼓三下而退。若留本寺居東堂。相斷住持者。須當盡禮溫存。宋理宗以靈隱寺菜園。為閻妃建寺。住山癡絕冲公即日退院。躬荷包笠往遊廬山。遣使留之不回。高風千古孰能繼之。

If the abbot is old and sick, or mentally and physically exhausted, or if conditions are not favorable, he should naturally know to retire. The funds and property of the permanent assets must be clearly accounted for in registers. The utensils of the abbot's quarters must be checked and handed over, with two identical copies of an inventory drawn up. The abbot, the two ranks, and the retired officers sign and endorse them, stamping them with the monastery seal; the abbot and the monastery storehouse each keep one copy for reference. They jointly request one person to guard the abbot's quarters. On the day of retirement, the abbot ascends the hall, expresses thanks, bids farewell to the assembly, and descends from the rostrum. The drum is struck three times, and he retires. If he remains at the monastery to reside in the East Hall to assist and advise the abbot, he must be treated with full etiquette and warm consideration. When Emperor Lizong of the Song used the vegetable garden of Lingyin Monastery to build a monastery for Consort Yan, Abbot Chijue Chong resigned from the monastery on the very day, carrying his pack and rain hat himself to travel to Mount Lu. An envoy was dispatched to ask him to stay, but he did not return. Such high integrity will endure for thousands of years; who can succeed to it?