Old Monk Xuyun 20

 

Old Monk Xuyun 20

In 1957, there was a fire on the mountain outside Zhenru Temple.

All the masters went to put out the fire.

The old monk also asked us to follow him to light the fire.

At first, he wore a short coat and walked briskly in front of us.

When we were about to go up the mountain outside Zhaozhou Pass, the old monk in front suddenly disappeared, and we saw him on a big rock several feet away from us.

We couldn't help shouting: "Old monk, you were here just now, why did you run so far away all of a sudden!"

He stood on a high place and said, "Hurry up and put out the fire!"

We really don't know how he walked over there.

At that time, the old monk gave sermons in the meditation hall every night, or sometimes every one or two days.

When the time came and the incense sticks were fired, not only those of us who were farming, but also the masters who were out on the slopes all ran back.

Even the crows in the sky flew back in groups to listen to the teachings.

At that time, there were so many crows in Yunju Mountain

that they stood densely on the roof, nearby trees and on the road from the hut to the meditation hall, making it difficult for us to move.

Sometimes we have to use a stick to move it, and it will jump before we can walk.

Otherwise, we will step on them. After the sermon was finished, the old monk returned to his hut, and the crows returned to their nests.

So birds are also very spiritual.

一九五七年真如寺關外山上失火，大眾師父都去救火，老和尚也叫我們跟著他去打火。

初時，他穿一件短中褂，步履輕快地在我們前面走，當走到趙州關外將要上山時，前面的老和尚突然不見了，卻見他在離我們好幾丈遠的一塊大石頭上站著。

我們不禁大喊：「老和尚，您剛才還在這裡，怎麼一下子跑得那麼遠呀！」他站在高處說：「你們快點打火啊！」

我們真不曉得他是怎麼走過去的。

當時，老和尚每天晚上，或有時隔一、兩天，在禪堂講開示。

時間一到，叫香板一打響，不但我們種田的、在外面出坡的師父們都往回跑。

連天空上的烏鴉也一群群地飛回來聽開示。那時雲居山的烏鴉特別多，屋頂上，附近的樹上以及從茅蓬到禪堂的路上都被站得密密麻麻，令我們寸步難行。

有時要用杖枝動它一下，它跳一下我們才有路可走，否則，就要踩到它們身上。

開示說完了，老和尚回茅蓬，烏鴉也回巢了。所以說鳥雀也是很有靈性啊。