In the year of the Song Dynasty, there was an eminent monk, known as Monk Yuanli. He is a native of Fujian. He is naturally kind and charitable. When he was in his twenties, he became a disciple of the eminent monk Jiao Shan and was given the Buddhist title "Yuan Li".
Monk Yuanli practiced asceticism under Jiaoshan Gate for ten years, and Buddhism was first established. After that, on the recommendation of Master Jiaoshan, Monk Yuanli came to Doyunyan and became his teacher.
Zen Master Fayan wanted to test the depth of Monk Yuanli’s cultivation. After meeting and greeting him, he asked Monk Yuanli: “Is it good for Monk Nin’s family to get the spiritual essence?” (It means that you are a monk and know that monks and ordinary people Is there any difference between people? )
Monk Yuanli was puzzled after hearing this. He didn't know the meaning of Zen Master Fayan's words, so he didn't know how to answer, so he left.
A few days later, Zen Master Fayan went to the church to preach. He talked about Master Shoushan's famous verse about "the bride rides on a donkey and is led by her mother-in-law." Then he asked everyone: "Do you understand the meaning of this sentence? ?"
No one answered, but Zen Master Fayan explained: "Don't ask the bride Ajia (mother-in-law), so as not to be troubled by the troubles on the road. When you meet someone, you are a meal, and when you come out of the same family, you are a friend."
Monk Yuanli suddenly became enlightened after hearing this. He stood up and said to Zen Master Fayan: "Master, today I understand the difference between monks and ordinary people." Zen Master Fayan nodded in agreement. (Don’t ask me what monk Yuanli was enlightened, I don’t know.)
Two years later, Zen Master Fayan went to the Wuzu Temple in Qizhou to serve as the abbot. Zen Master Fayan invited Monk Yuanli to be the chief abbot and replace him. To preside over the daily affairs of the temple is to let Monk Yuanli be the acting abbot, on an equal footing with him.
Monk Yuanli only agreed to be the first abbot and declined to act as abbot. Later, Zen Master Fayan passed away, and Monk Yuanli left Wuzu Temple and wandered around the world.
During the Chongning period of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, monk Yuanli returned to the Wuzu Temple. The then abbot of the Wuzu Temple was worried that the monk Yuanli would come to take his position as the abbot, so he deliberately asked him: "Dare you ask the master, the Fifth Patriarch?" Where did you go after your death?"
Monk Yuanli replied: "Having eyes but no ears, sitting by the fire in June." The abbot asked, "What do these two sentences mean?" Monk Yuanli said two more: "It's okay to be poor at home, but to be poor on the road is to worry about killing people."
The abbot saw that it was difficult for Monk Yuanli, and asked again: Master, it is recorded in "Diamond Sutra" that "if you practice all good Dharma, you will obtain Anuttara Sanmei." "Three Bodhisattva", what exactly is good dharma?
Monk Yuanli did not answer the abbot directly, but asked the abbot: "The sky is above, the earth is below, sit in the middle, sit on the bottom, stand on the bottom, what kind of good method do you call (what do you call good method)?"
The abbot was speechless, so Monk Yuanli raised his hand and slapped the abbot. From then on, the abbot was convinced by Monk Yuanli.
years later, monk Yuanli passed away in Ruiyan Temple in Siming.
