Karmic retribution is obvious, and Sengyun Old Man is the most obvious proof
2025-03-16
Lecture by Master Yunqi Zhuhong
During the Northern Qi Dynasty of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, there was a Master Sengyun who was the abbot of Baoming Temple in Yexia and was famous for his lectures. On the 15th day of the fourth month of one year, when the reciting precepts ceremony was about to be held, he said to the crowd: "Everyone knows how to recite the precepts, so why do we need to hold a reciting the precepts ceremony every half a month? We can recommend a monk to discuss profound ideas and establish doctrines so that later generations can gain enlightenment. " No one in the public dared to object, so the reciting precepts ceremony was no longer held regularly.
On July 15th, the day of the summer retreat, all the monks gathered together, but suddenly Master Sengyun disappeared. They searched everywhere and finally found him in an ancient tomb more than three miles away from the temple. He was covered in blood. They asked what had happened?
Master Sengyun said: "There was a fierce warrior holding a big knife, who shouted at me: 'Sengyun ! Who do you think you are? How dare you abolish the half-monthly recitation of precepts established by the Buddha and advocate discussing profound mysteries and establishing doctrines without authorization?' After saying that, he slashed at me with a knife, which was extremely painful. "
So, everyone helped Master Sengyun back to the temple and repented sincerely. After that, for ten years, he followed the half-monthly ritual of reciting precepts with utmost sincerity and respect, without interruption.
On the day of his death, he smelled a strange fragrance and Buddha appeared to welcome him, and he passed away happily.
At that time, people praised him for being punished in this life and able to change his mind and change his past mistakes.
Praise: Nowadays, most monks worship scriptures and treatises but despise precepts. The ceremony of reciting precepts every half month, which has been held for 2,000 years, is rarely performed in the monasteries nowadays. Without much thought, I restored the long-abandoned half-monthly ritual of reciting precepts in my Yunqi Temple. Even now, many people still do not believe it. Alas! The law of cause and effect is obvious, and Sengyun Old Man is the most obvious proof. I hope that those who read this biography will think twice!
