釋門自鏡錄 2.85

2.85

湖州白雀寺弱菴律師。嗣蘇州報國茂林和尚。寺中建大悲殿少階石。一施主潘姓者捐二十金。令完此公案。師以東圊未成眾僧不便。權借階石作窖。後施主來見問故。師曰吾已別作一好功德。再尋銀完階也。施主甚銜恨。後弱師遷化。後一沙彌忽發顛。主事者以芒繩縛之反鎖一室。明晨沙彌忽逸出。人問誰為汝解縛開鎖乎。顛僧曰。弱菴和尚也。眾疑誕妄。弱師旋附沙彌口曰。他非誕實我也。因我誤用大悲殿階石作東淨。冥府常以大石壓我。苦楚不可說。汝輩徒眾速為我起石淨洗。供起集僧誦梵網經。吾苦即脫矣。徒輩曰。和尚何以附此沙彌乎。師曰。虧此沙彌已顛頭上無大光。吾得借彼傳信。不然吾受苦無期也。徒眾如命起石。并集僧誦梵網經。師乃去。

Vinaya Master Ruo'an of Baique Monastery in Huzhou was the Dharma heir of Venerable Maolin of Baoguo Monastery in Suzhou. When the Great Compassion Hall was being built at the monastery, they were short of paving stones for the steps. A donor named Pan donated twenty pieces of gold to conclude this matter. Because the eastern privy had not yet been built and the monks were inconvenienced, the master temporarily borrowed the paving stones to construct the cesspool. Later, when the donor came to inspect and asked the reason, the master said: 'I have accomplished another good deed with them, and will seek more funds to finish the steps.' The donor harbored deep resentment. Later, Master Ruo passed away. Afterward, a novice monk suddenly went mad. The administrator bound him with miscanthus rope and locked him in a room. The next morning, the novice suddenly slipped out. People asked, 'Who untied your bonds and unlocked the door?' The mad monk replied, 'It was Venerable Ruo'an.' The assembly suspected it was an absurd lie. Master Ruo then possessed the novice's mouth and spoke: 'He is not lying; it is truly I. Because I misused the paving stones of the Great Compassion Hall to construct the eastern latrine, the underworld court constantly crushes me with a giant boulder, causing unspeakable agony. You disciples must quickly dig up the stones, wash them clean, enshrine them, and gather the saṃgha to recite the Brahmajāla Sūtra; then my suffering will be relieved.' The disciples asked, 'Why did the Venerable Master possess this novice?' The master said: 'Fortunately, because this novice is mad, there was no great aura above his head, so I could use him to deliver the message. Otherwise, my suffering would have no end.' The disciples dug up the stones as instructed and assembled the monks to recite the Brahmajāla Sūtra, whereupon the master departed.