Chapter 82 temperament

When Li Shutong was teaching at Hangzhou No. 1 Normal School, one day, a student was suspected of stealing by a certain teacher. Feng Zikai came forward to fight the injustice and punched the teacher in a hurry.A teacher who was beaten up insisted on expelling Feng Zikai. Li Shutong said: "It is wrong for a student to beat a teacher, but the teacher is also at fault, which means that the teacher did not educate the students well." In the end, with Li's efforts, Feng Zikai was only demerited Once, from the bad luck of being expelled. Feng Zikai recalled that in music class, some people read other books instead of singing, and some people spit on the floor. Li Shutong "did not reprimand immediately. After class, he solemnly said in a very light and serious voice: so-and-so Wait a while to get out... When the other students have gone out, he said kindly to this so-and-so classmate in a soft and serious voice: Don't read other books in class next time. Or: Don't spit out your phlegm next time On the floor. After saying that, he bowed slightly, indicating that you should go out. Most of the people who came out blushed. Another time, after music class, the last person to go out accidentally pulled the door, knocked it too hard, and made a loud noise Voice. After he walked dozens of steps, Mr. Li came out of the door and asked him to turn around... Entering the classroom, Mr. Li said kindly to him in a very light and serious voice: Next time you walk out of the classroom, Close the door softly. I bowed to him, sent him out, and closed the door softly by myself.... During a piano class...a classmate farted, but it didn't make a sound, but it was very smelly. Piano and Mr. Li's dozens of classmates were all immersed in the atmosphere of Armonia. Most of the classmates covered their noses or made annoying noises. Mr. Li frowned and played the piano by himself (I think he must be holding his breath). After playing, Armonia His breath was gone, and his brows were just stretched out.... After the class ended, and the students hadn't left the house, Mr. Li solemnly announced: Everyone, wait a moment, there is one more sentence. Everyone stood up again. Mr. Li used a very light And the serious voice said kindly: "In the future, if you fart, go outside the door and don't put it in the room." Then he bowed again, indicating that we were asked to go out. The students suppressed their laughter, and as soon as they went out, everyone ran and ran far away Laugh out loud."

Li Shutong’s way of educating students made some students very unbearable. Feng Zikai recalled that one of the most naughty classmates said: “I would rather be scolded by Xia Papaya (Xia Mianzun’s nickname). Mr. Li’s enlightenment is really too much for me. I really want to cry." One day, in the charcoal drawing classroom, Li Hongliang walked to the plaster model to look at the instruction card, but unexpectedly blocked the view of Li Shutong, who was changing the painting behind him, and he said with some displeasure, "Run away!" Quite dissatisfied, he walked back to his seat and deliberately tapped the drawing board to show his displeasure.After lunch, worker Wen Yu said to Li Hongliang: "Mr. Li invites you to go." I, Li Hongliang, knew that Li Shutong must be looking for me for the morning business, so I couldn't help but feel a little worried.But Li Shutong did not change his normal behavior when he saw him. Instead, he led him into the room, closed the door, and said to him softly, "Are you feeling a little sick this morning? Next time you feel sick, please ask for leave." He opened the door and said: "You go, there is nothing else." Li Hongliang was so ashamed that he talked to Li Shutong face to face for several days.

Once again, Li Hongliang came out of the drawing classroom and asked loudly, "Where did Li Shutong go?" Unexpectedly, Li Shutong immediately came out of the small room next to the classroom, and Li Hongliang was so frightened that he rolled and jumped from the escalator to escape. down.But Li Shutong's voice didn't change, he still asked naturally: "What's the matter?" At this time Li Hongliang was already sweating through his shirt. Xia Mianzun recalled Li Shutong: "His (Li Shutong's) strength comes from sincerity and respect. I have to admire him and cannot learn from him. To give an example, once a student lost property in the dormitory, and everyone guessed that a certain student stole it. , I checked but found no evidence. As a dormitory supervisor, I felt ashamed and depressed, so I asked him for advice. He showed me the method, and he was afraid of people, and taught me to commit suicide! He said: "Are you willing to commit suicide? If you die A notice said that the thieves would surrender themselves quickly. If no one surrendered within three days, it meant that the dormitory supervisor was not honest and had vowed to die for education. The words must be spoken honestly. If no one turns himself in after three days, he must commit suicide. Otherwise, it will be ineffective.' These words are considered exaggerated by ordinary people, but when he said them, he expressed his sincerity; there was no hypocrisy I felt ashamed that I couldn’t do it, so I thanked him with a smile, and of course he didn’t blame me.”

Feng Zikai recalled in the article "Mr. Li Shutong's Views on Literature and Art—First Knowledge and then Literature and Art". He wrote four words with his own hands, and added a red circle next to each word... Once he asked a few of us to go to his room for a conversation, and he opened the book "Human Genealogy" and pointed out a section for us to read. … He was blushing and stuttering (Mr. Li is not good at speaking), explaining to us the meaning of knowledge first and then literature and art... I was passionate about oil painting and piano skills at that time, and I heard what he said today. It’s like a new window opened in my heart. It’s better than ten years of reading. Since then, I have respected Mr. Li even more. Later, Mr. Li gave me this volume of "Human Genealogy" together with other books on the eve of becoming a monk. I have been It was preserved in Yuanyuan Hall until it was destroyed by artillery fire during the Anti-Japanese War. I took refuge in Sichuan, and I saw a copy of "Human Genealogy" at an old stall in Chengdu, and I bought it. It is still kept on my bookshelf until now. , but there is no red circle above the four words "do your best."

Li Hongliang recalled that Li Shutong played the piano very strictly, regardless of dots, syncopation, rests, strength and weakness, etc., and was very accurate.Every week, he asks the students to play to him the music he taught last week, and when he is satisfied, he writes the words "Good", "Shang Jia" or "Shang Ke" in the notebook.If he is not satisfied, he immediately stands up and says in Shanghainese with a Tianjin accent: "Manhao, Manhao, but Di Gelang seems to be a bit unreasonable" (something is wrong here), or "You can slow down a bit." , Di Gelang (here) will be extended a little bit" and so on.The student does not need to make an excuse, because even if he does, he will never say another sentence.The student had to quit quickly, go back to continue practicing, and wait until the next week to play it to him with the new piece.

When Li Shutong asked his friends for books, he immediately polished his ink and brushed his brushes, and he responded to every request.Sometimes there was some ink left after writing, so he said to the students: "Whoever has rice paper can bring it!" The students immediately went to get it until the ink was finished. In 1917, Liu Zhiping went to Japan to study music. Due to financial difficulties, he asked his teacher Li Shutong for help.At that time, Li Shutong's salary was 105 yuan, which was 40 yuan for his family in Shanghai and 25 yuan for his family in Tianjin. He squeezed out another 20 yuan from his own living expenses to cover Liu's living expenses until Liu finished his studies.In his letter to Liu Zhiping, he made an agreement with Liu: this is a gift based on the friendship between teachers and students, not a loan, and there is no need to repay it in the future; the third party shall not be informed of the donation, even family members shall not mention it; Subject to graduation.

What Li Shutong never forgot in his life is the saying in the Chinese saying, "Trembling with trembling, as if facing an abyss, as if walking on thin ice." This is his warning as a man and a monk. After Master Hongyi was ordained, Li Hongliang went to Daci Temple to visit, but was stopped by the monks, saying that the master would not see outsiders.Li then quarreled with the monk.After hearing the news, the master came out and saw Li, and quickly apologized to the monks: "I'm sorry, he is my student." The master told Li Hongliang to make an appointment for future visits, so as not to be hindered.Once again, Li went to Zhaoxian Temple to see the master. The master was afraid that Li would be blocked again, so he waited in front of the mountain gate early.Therefore, when Li Hongliang went to see the mage again, he must abide by the agreed time, lest the mage wait for a long time.

When Master Hongyi first entered Buddhism, he once asked himself: "Anyone who has old friends and new acquaintances who come to visit, postpone the interview; anyone who is related to writing and composition, etc., postpone writing; .” Master Hongyi takes "studying hard work, cherishing blessings, chanting Buddha, and chanting scriptures" as his daily homework, and takes "dressing uprightly, looking up, keeping few words, and acting cautiously" as his motto. Master Hongyi received the express letter in the mail at night, but he didn't open it to read it. He just said that no matter what important matter there was, he had to deal with it tomorrow.

Feng Zikai recalled: "Once I sent a roll of rice paper and asked Master Hongyi to write the Buddha's name. There was a lot of rice paper, and he wrote to me asking me what to do with the extra rice paper. Another time, I sent back a postage stamp. , a few more points, he sent me back the extra points. In the future, when I send paper or stamps, I will declare in advance that the rest will be given to the master.” In 1920, Master Hongyi went to Quzhou. The head of the Quzhou garrison asked to see the master three times, but the master refused to see him.The novice persuaded again, and the mage said: "He wants to see me, he just asks for one word, so I will give him a Buddha name, please pass it on to me!"

Master Hongyi retreated and meditated in Qingfu Temple, Wenzhou, and Wenzhou Taoist Zhang Zongxiang came to visit.Hong Yi disappeared, his master Ji Shan took Zhang's business card to intercede on his behalf, Hong Yi wept and said: "Master is merciful, master is merciful, disciples become monks, not for food and clothing, purely for life and death, wives are also abandoned, how about friends?" Let me tell you politely that it’s okay not to see customers when you’re sick.” Zhang had no choice but to return disappointed. When Master Hongyi lived in Zhanshan Temple in Qingdao, the mayor Shen Honglie and Zhu Ziqiao came to see him. Hongyi saw Zhu. When Zhu talked about the meeting with the mayor, he hurriedly said to Zhu in a soft voice: "You just say that I am sleeping. Already." The next morning, the mayor invited him to a banquet. He quoted a verse from Weizheng Chan Master of the Northern Song Dynasty and politely declined: "Yesterday, I used today's date to go out to lean on and think. It is not suitable for a monk to live in a valley together. .”

You Mojun recalled that Master Hongyi saw laborers the most, intellectuals the next time, and bureaucrats.After meeting the visitors, I often present them with four lines of verses from "Psalmite Practice and Vows": "All living beings in the ten directions, may they be free from worries and sufferings and be in peace and happiness. Obtain the profound and righteous Dharma benefits, and eliminate all afflictions." At the request of Layman Ye Qingyan from Quanzhou, Master Hongyi taught the Pure Land Dharma Door to Dong Zhu in the Wenling Nursing Home.When preparing to start the lecture, a local dignitary came to the courtyard, Ye Qingyan got up frequently to entertain the dignitary.The mage was extremely displeased and immediately said that he would cancel the lecture.Ye Mang confessed repeatedly, and Hong Yi agreed to give the lecture tomorrow instead. Huang Fuhai visited Master Hongyi at Fulin Temple. A few days later, a young monk brought him a small nave and a large volume of books at the Master's request.Huang Fuhai opened it and found that in addition to the book, there were also many shredded papers that made people laugh out loud.The little monk explained that the note was the paper he gave to the mage before, and it was left over after cutting and writing, and now it is returned to him together.After hearing this, Huang was very impressed by Master Hongyi's precious things. The little monk was surprised to see him, and said: "I once saw the master picked up some small cloth strips on the garbage dump, took them back like treasures, washed them, and prepared to mend the old clothes. .” Master Hongyi is very strict with himself. He never easily accepts worship and offerings from devout men and women. Everywhere he goes, he must first make three promises: first, not to be a teacher; second, not to hold welcome parties; third, not to advertise in newspapers. Xia Mianzun said about Master Hongyi: "For him, there is nothing bad in the world. Everything is good, the small hotel is good, the steerage is good, the hanging bag is good, the dusty mat is good, the old hand towel is good, cabbage is good, radish (radish) ) Well, salty and bitter vegetables are good, running is good, everything has a taste, nothing is great.” Master Hongyi’s discipline is already very strict. When his disciples violated the precepts, he seldom reprimanded him face to face. Instead, he punished himself and forbade him to eat, because he believed that his own virtue and influence were not enough to make others follow the right path. The wrongdoer repents.The disciples know his habit, whenever he does not eat, they know that they have made a mistake, and try to correct it quickly. In 1930, a young monk in his 20s came to Li Hongliang to learn painting with a letter of introduction from Master Hongyi.On the second day, Hongyi's express letter arrived at Li's office. In the letter, he said that a certain monk came to study painting and hoped it would be convenient for him, but please do not tell him his mailing address. There is also a sentence at the end of the letter: "After reading this letter Destroy it." Li Hongliang was quite surprised, and later found out that this monk likes to visit wealthy families and make friends with powerful people, but he has no intention of painting and calligraphy, so the master stayed away. Wherever he went, Master Hongyi always avoided the crowd, and when he encountered someone approaching by chance, he always avoided and walked away, as if he was a little afraid of people, but in fact he wanted to avoid the trouble of others saluting to him.Whenever someone salutes him, he always returns the same salute.On weekdays, students before becoming a monk came to visit and kowtowed to him, and he kowtowed to the students in return. When leaving Zhanshan Temple in Qingdao, Master Hongyi went to bid farewell to Master Junxu, took out a note from his pocket, and wrote: "First, you are not allowed to prepare money; second, you are not allowed to prepare a farewell meal; Fourth, it is not allowed to stipulate or ask when to come back; fifth, it is not allowed to communicate with each other after leaving." Master Junxu knew his temperament, so he had to agree. Master Hongyi will do what he says.When the Anti-Japanese War broke out, he was in Qingdao. Others persuaded him to leave Qingdao. Because he made a promise to others, he kept his promise and left after the Mid-Autumn Festival.Then the flames of war spread, and Shanghai was already under fire. Compared with Qingdao, it was still calm, so Xia Mianzun wrote to advise the master to stay in Qingdao temporarily.However, the master still left Qingdao as planned.A few days before the fall of Shanghai, the master arrived in Shanghai.The two haven't seen each other for several years, and they both feel old.Seeing Xia's sad face, the master smiled and comforted him and said, "Everything in the world is false in the first place, so don't take it seriously. Didn't I write the four verses of the Diamond Sutra for you last time?" Dreams and bubbles, like dew and electricity, should be viewed as such. 'You can now realize this truth." Master Hongyi stayed in Shanghai for three days and then returned to Xiamen.On the third day, Xia Mianzun went to visit.The hotel where the master lived was close to the Bund, and the Japanese planes bombed indiscriminately nearby.The master was calm and calm, just slightly moved his lips and sat upright to chant sutras.Xia Mianzun admired such scenery so much that he threw himself to the ground.This time in Shanghai, Xia Mianzun invited the master to take a photo with him.The following day, Xia sent a photo to Feng Zikai, with the message: "When Master Hongyi passed through Shanghai, he took a photo, sent it to him, and borrowed money to support it. The photo was taken before and after the fall of Dachang. At that time, Shanghai The explosions in the surrounding suburbs are the most urgent, and there is still a smile on the teacher's face, but his beard and hair are already whiter than before." When Master Hongyi was seriously ill, he worked as usual every day. He said to Master Guangqia who came to visit him: "Don't ask me if I am well, but ask me if I have recited Buddha's name." In his later years, Master Hongyi named himself "Elder Eryi".These two "ones" come from "A man grows old without doing anything", and Wu Meicun's death sentence "It is worthless to say".