132.為和尚念經施食 Reciting sutras and bestowing food upon a monk

為和尚念經施食

往騰沖住湘會館。行單未卸有服孝者。數人扣禮云。請大師念經。公答非應赴經僧。孝子云。為你們和尚念經。館人曰。大師要去。來者為吳太史曾孫。太史乃善人。臨終謂為僧。有高僧來度。

宣化偈曰：

念經施食滿來復。闔邑官紳願皈徒。 懇留騰越募緣急。踴躍樂捐巨款輸。

Reciting sutras and bestowing food upon a monk

The Master then left for T’eng Ch’ung, where he stayed in the Hunan Provincial Association Hall. Before he could put down his bag, however, several mourners bowed and said, “We respectfully request that the Venerable Master recite Sutras for the deceased.” The Master told them that he was not a monk who had come to recite Sutras. A mourner then said, “Surely you can recite Sutras for a fellow monk!” A man from the Association said. “The Venerable Master ought to go with them. These people are the grandsons of the Imperial Historian Wu, who was a beneficent man. Just before his death. he said that he wished to become a member of the Sangha. and that an eminent monk would soon arrive to rescue him.”

The gatha says: Reciting Sutras and bestowing food were rites well attended. The entire town, officials and gentry, wished to become disciples. They entreated him to stay in T’eng Yueh, but subscriptions were more important, So in their joy, they happily pledge substantial contributions.