續傳燈錄 33.45

33.45

南劍州西巖宗回禪師。婺州人也。久依無示深得法忍。因寺僧以茶禁聞有司。吏捕知事。師謂眾曰。此事不直之則罪坐於我。若自直彼復得罪。不忍為也。令擊鼓陞座說偈曰。縣吏追呼不暫停。爭如長往事分明。從前有箇無生曲。且喜今朝調已成。言訖而逝。

Chan Master Xiyan Zonghui of Nanjian Prefecture was a native of Wuzhou. He long relied on Wushi and deeply attained the Dharma forbearance. Because a monastery monk reported a violation of the tea prohibition to the authorities, bailiffs came to arrest the monastic officer. The Master said to the assembly: “If I do not clear this matter up, the guilt will fall on me; if I clear myself, he will incur guilt again. I cannot bear to do that.” He ordered the drum beaten, ascended the seat, and uttered a verse: “The county bailiff's summons does not halt for a moment; / How can it compare to departing forever, with matters clearly resolved? / From before there has been a song of the unborn; / How fortunate that today the tune is already finished!” Having spoken these words, he passed away.