勅修百丈清規 2.46

2.46

Formerly, Chan Master Fenyang Zhao resided at Taizi Cloister in Fenzhou. Because the Bing-Fen region was bitterly cold, he discontinued evening instructions. An extraordinary monk arrived shaking his staff and said to the master: 'In your assembly there are six Great Beings; why do you not preach the Dharma?' Having spoken, he ascended into the sky and departed. The master secretly recorded it in a verse: / 'The foreign monk's golden staff shone; / For the Dharma he came to Fenyang. / Six men will become great vessels; / He exhorted and requested that I expound.' / At that time, Chuyuan and Shouzhi were called the leaders; Chuyuan was Ciming. Later he resided at Shishuang; after finishing his meal he would often take walks in the mountains. At that time, Master Yangqi Fanghui was prior; watching for his departure, he beat the drum and gathered the assembly. Ciming hurried back and scoldingly said in anger: 'Ascending the seat at dusk—where did you get such a rule?' Hui slowly replied: 'Why is Fenyang's evening instruction not a rule?' Ciming nodded in agreement.