續傳燈錄 23.17

23.17

杭州南蕩法空禪師。江西人。為人強項久侍死心得旨。後欲辭去。死心記云。汝福薄宜以道自養。師遂辭行。清草堂亦有頌送之云。十年聚首龍峯寺。一悟真空萬境閑。此去隨緣且高隱。莫將名字落人間。後出世杭州南蕩。不踰月而院被火了無孑遺。師嘆曰。吾違先師之言故見今日之難。有富人欲獨迎齋而捨三門。師曰。公欲施財邀福。非長老受賜。若教我背眾而食。所不願也。師既汩沒於土木。道遂不行。草堂嘗遣僧齎衣一襲。尋訪之。衲子聞遂往依之而師亦老矣。後示滅於本山。

Chan Master Fakong of Nandang in Hangzhou was a native of Jiangxi. By nature unyielding, he served Sixin for a long time and obtained the tenets. Later, when he wished to take leave and depart, Sixin gave him a prediction, saying, "Your blessings are meager; you should nourish yourself with the Way." The master then took his leave and departed. Master Qing of Caotang also had a verse to send him off: / "For ten years we met together at Longfeng Temple; / Once awakened to true emptiness, the myriad realms are at leisure. / Departing now, accord with conditions and hide high away; / Do not let your name fall into the human world." / Later, he appeared in the world at Nandang in Hangzhou. In less than a month, the monastery was consumed by fire, leaving nothing behind. The master sighed, saying, "Because I went against my late master's words, I met today's disaster." A wealthy man wished to host a meal for him alone while donating to the triple gate. The master said, "You wish to give wealth to invite blessings, but it is not for the elder to accept such a favor. If you make me eat turning my back on the assembly, that is not what I desire." Because the master was immersed in construction and earthworks, the Way did not prevail. Caotang once sent a monk carrying a set of robes to seek him out. Monks heard of this and went to rely on him, but the master was already old. Later, he showed extinction on his home mountain.