During the Qianxing period of Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty, at the age of Renxu, Zen Master Shanzhao was already seventy-eight years old. This year, Li Hou, an old friend of Fenyang Zen Master Shanzhao and the governor of Longde Prefecture, left the abbot's seat of Chengtian Temple, a famous Taoist temple, vacant and wanted to invite him to come and be the abbot. Envoys sent by Marquis Li came to greet him three times, but he declined all of them.
Li Hou blamed the envoy for his incompetence and punished him severely - he was beaten fifty times. Moreover, he issued an absolute order: "If you can't be invited again, don't come back to see me alive."
The messenger was frightened and came to the Prince's Courtyard for the fourth time. Zen Master Shanzhao begged and said: "Master must return to Longde Mansion with me now, otherwise, this villain will have no choice but to die."
Master Shanzhao smiled and said: "This poor monk is old and sick. I haven’t left the mountain for thirty years. If you want me to go, we can go in separate directions. Why do we have to go together?”
The messenger said, “As long as the master agrees, then it’s up to you to go first and then later.” Choose."
So Fenyang Shanzhao ordered the monk in charge to set up a fasting and pack his luggage. While eating, he said to the monks: "The old monk is going, who of you is willing to go with him?"
A monk came out and said: "I am willing to follow him."
Fenyang Shanzhao asked: "How many miles do you travel in a day?" The monk saw that his master was old, so he tried to keep it as short as possible and said: "You can walk fifty miles."
Shanzhao shook his head: "Then You can't catch up with me."
Another monk came out and said, "I can travel seventy miles a day."
Shan Zhao still shook his head: "You can't follow me."< /p>
At this time, the waiter who had been with the Master for many years stepped forward and said, "I can do whatever I want. As long as the monk goes wherever he goes, I will be there immediately."
"You can really do whatever you want." ." This time, Shan Zhao nodded. He turned around and said to the messenger: "I'm leaving first."
After saying that, Fenyang Shanzhao put down his chopsticks and passed away peacefully.
What’s even more amazing is that the waiter who said he would follow Master immediately stood and passed away beside Shan Zhao!