In Wujiang County of Jiangsu Province, there’s a monk named Doing-nothing, who was my senior in age, in virtue, and in entering monastic life. In my early years, while traveling through the Suzhou and Huzhou regions, I practiced seated meditation alongside him. Later, when I became the abbot of Yunqi Temple, he came to visit me, asking to receive the precepts and to be enrolled as my disciple. I declined his request, but he earnestly pleaded: “If even the great Bodhisattva Samantabhadra and Bodhisattva Universal Wisdom sought to join the Pure Land Lotus Society on Mt. Lushan, who am I to cut myself off from your splendid sangha?” Reluctantly, I granted his wish, following the precedent set where Wang Yangming accepted the great courtesy extended by Dong Luoshi (in which case the latter was much more advanced in age too while becoming the disciple of the former).
Venerable Doing-nothing exhibited such a style of nobility and humility, truly echoed the spirit of the ancients who treated their inferiors with respect and grace. I record this here to inspire those who come after.
by Grand Master Lian Chi (蓮池大師), the Eighth Patriarch of Pure Land Buddhism
僧無為 – 錄自明末蓮池大師《竹窗隨筆》(初筆)
吳江流慶菴無為能公，齒先予，德先予，出家先予；予蚤歲遊蘇湖間，與同堂坐禪。及予住雲棲，公來受戒，求列名弟子。予謝不允，則固請曰:「昔普慧、普賢二大菩薩尚求入匡廬蓮社，我何人斯，自絕佳會。」不得已，如董蘿石謁新建故事，許之。以賢下愚，有古人風，筆之以勸後進。
Buddha Mind 