How to Use Personal Wealth for Community Benefit...

[Shi Da Dao]

When Ch’an Master Zhenjing [真淨] (1025-1102) lived during the time of the Northern Song Dynasty and was the Head-Monk of Baoming Temple, (in Jiankang, possibly near Nanjing City, Jiangsu province). One day, King of the State of Shu sent him an expensive gift of a roll of freshly-made plain silk. Slightly confused by this, Zhenjing asked his attendant ‘What is this and what do I do with it?’

The attending-monk replied ‘It is a roll of pristine silk cloth!’

Zhenjing said ‘In that case, what am I supposed to do with it?’

The attending-monk answered ‘Such a roll of unused material could be made into an elaborate robe worn only at special times by yourself.’

With that, Zhenjing point to the old and battered robe he already wore and said ‘What could be better than this thin, cotton robe that is old and full of repairs? When my disciples see it, they know that the empty mind ground is not attached to worldly things!’

Zhenjing then had the roll of silk sent to the monk in-charge of temple supplies – so that it could be sold at the local marketplace and the resultant money distributed throughout the community to where it was needed the most.

Recorded in the Diary of Li Shang Lao

Chinese Language Source:

authority.dila.edu.tw/person/search.php?aid=A007526