13.潛然離家不果 Attempting to leave home secretly, he was unsuccessful

潛然離家不果

公年十七已被困習外道三年矣。心中悵甚。常思出家為僧。一日乘叔外出不覺之際。潛逃往南岳。古剎中剃度出家。豈料于迂迴歧途中。遭叔父使人所截回。私願未果勸送歸家。

宣化偈曰： 脫俗離塵效希達。孰意崎嶇徑路狹。 更無寶驥天王助。終被截回仍歸家。

Attempting to leave home secretly, he was unsuccessful

When the Master was seventeen years old, he had already undergone the hardships of practicing Taoism for three years and was indeed disappointed. He constantly thought about leaving the home-life and joining the Buddhist Sangha. One day he took advantage of his uncle’s absence to furtively flee to Nan Yo. His intent was to shave his head in an ancient temple and officially leave the home-life. Little did he know that on a winding mountain path he would encounter envoys sent by his uncle to intercept him and escort him back. His aspiration was not realized and he was reproved and brought back home.

The verse says: Renouncing the vulgar and leaving the dust, he strived to be like Siddartha. Who would have guessed that the rugged mountain had a path steep and narrow! Moreover, he lacked the Precious Thoroughbred and the aid of the Heavenly King, So in the end he was overtaken and went back home again.