釋門自鏡錄 2.51

2.51

道昶俗姓宋。楊州江都人。少出家住白塔寺。任都維那。掌知僧物。自在侵用。至永昌年中。忽有冥官數人。悉衣朱紫。乘駿騎。白日入房。曳昶下地。怒目揮刀。將斷其頸。昶不知何人。唯驚叫乞命。弟子等走報寺主。寺主前見流污側立。都不得言。冥官厲聲言。所有合房資財。並送還僧當放汝活。昶叩頭答云。不敢違命。官言且去三日更來。昶即鳴鐘集僧。罄捨衣物。陪僧造像。設齋懺悔。冥官三日又來。見昶一鉢一衲更無遺積。遂不言而去。自爾無他。後成明行。

Daochang's secular surname was Song; he was a native of Jiangdu in Yangzhou. He left secular life at an early age and dwelt at Baita Monastery, serving as karmadāna. He had charge of the saṃgha property, and misappropriated it for his personal use at will. In the Yongchang reign era, several underworld officials suddenly appeared, all clad in scarlet and purple, riding swift horses. In broad daylight they entered his room, dragged Daochang to the ground, and with glaring eyes brandished their knives, about to cut off his neck. Daochang did not know who they were; he could only scream in terror and plead for his life. His disciples ran to inform the vihārasvāmin. When the vihārasvāmin came forward, he saw them standing filthy and vile, completely incapable of speech. The underworld officials shouted sternly, 'If you return all the possessions and goods in your room to the saṃgha, we shall spare your life!' Daochang kowtowed and replied, 'I dare not disobey your command!' The officials said, 'We shall leave for now, and return in three days.' Daochang immediately sounded the bell to assemble the saṃgha, gave up all his robes and goods, compensated the saṃgha by making images, and held a vegetarian feast to repent. When the underworld officials came again after three days, they saw that Daochang had only one bowl and one robe, with no other hoarded surplus, and so they departed without a word. From then on he suffered no harm, and later achieved brilliant conduct.