釋門自鏡錄 2.88

2.88

In Macheng, a wealthy monk named Bifan once donated a hundred pieces of gold to help the villagers build a stronghold to defend the area. His disciple Wuqiong wished to receive the precepts, but Bifan would not allow it. At night, the disciple slipped away to Venerable Xingyan's place to receive the precepts and returned. When Bifan saw him, he flew into a rage, ripped the three robes to shreds, and smashed the earthen alms bowl. That evening, just as he fell asleep, he saw the Heavenly Lord Weituo, who shouted in fury and rebuked him harshly: 'Who are you to dare destroy the Dharma vessels of the Tathāgata?' He prepared to strike him with his jeweled pestle. Bifan kowtowed and begged for repentance. Lord Weituo said: 'Considering your merit in building the stronghold, I shall only take one of your arms for now.' He lightly tapped his right arm with the pestle. Bifan awoke screaming madly. Within several days, his right arm secretly withered away, measuring only seven or eight inches long, with the hand curled like a small tangerine and hanging from his shoulder. To this day, both master and disciple are still alive (from the Xinguo suilu).