How Shi Yeguang's False Cultivation Led to Retribution
 
Shi Yeguang was a well-known monk during the Tang Dynasty who lived in Jimen. He was a bright boy growing up and liked to study Buddhism when he was young. Eventually he became a monk. After ten years of studying Buddhism, he thought that he had a complete understanding of the profoundness of Buddhism. His celestial eye was open and he could see ghosts. At that time, there was another monk named Huida, who had accumulated enormous wealth but had very little knowledge of Buddhism. Huida coveted Shi’s knowledge and Shi also fancied Huida’s wealth. They met each other occasionally, exchanging gifts for words of wisdom. As time wore on, they continued to praise each other and became close friends.
 
At that time, Emperor Xuanzong (685 – 762 AD) respected cultivators of both Buddhist and Taoist practices. The emperor invited monks and Taoists to the imperial capital. Shi wanted to go to the capital city to get the emperor's attention, but couldn't afford to pay for the trip, so he often expressed unhappiness about this. Huida knew about Shi's problem and offered to finance the trip with 700,000 saying, "I dare say that Master Shi’s knowledge and wisdom is second to none in the world. The emperor wants to pay tribute to talented people. If you go to the capital, you will be treated as an eminent monk and become a government official. When that happens, I'll come to see you and I hope that you'll remember me as your old friend." Shi replied, "Your generous help is what allows me to go to the capital. If I become a government official, I shall definitely repay the favor."
 
After Shi arrived at the capital, he bribed assistants of the Jiuxian princess for an opportunity to see the emperor. Emperor Xuanzong asked his assistants to find more than ten well-educated monks to discuss the principles of Buddhism with Shi. It turned out that Shi was a good debater. He could explain the scriptures, argue the metaphysics and interpret difficult passages. None of the monks were comparable to Shi Yeguang. The emperor was impressed by his ability, and gave him an extravagant house, thousands of gold and silk rolls, the title of a scholar and an official position in the government.
 
Shi Yeguang became one of the emperor’s favorite officials and accompanied Emperor Xuanzong’s daily. He was highly respected by the emperor as a Buddhist scholar, although he did not really understand the requirements of a cultivator. In front of real cultivators, Shi’s minor supernormal abilities and debates self-destructed. Once, Emperor Xuanzong summoned Zhang Guolao (one of the Eight Immortals in the Taoist school). He asked Zhang to sit beside him, and then asked Shi to use his celestial eye to detect what kind of being is Zhang. When Shi arrived, even though Zhang was sitting right in front of him, Shi said, “Where did Zhang Guolao go?” Thus his popularity with the emperor waned.
 
After Huida heard about Shi's success at the capital, he took the long trip from Jimen to the capital to visit Shi Yeguang, hoping that he could also have an official position. Shi did not want to see him, and thought that Huida came to ask for his money. Huida sensed that Shi wouldn't help him, so he left and returned home.
 
A month later, Shi still worried about Huida coming back to seek benefits. He thought of a sinister plan. He wrote a secret letter to Zhang Tinggui, the commander of Jimen, accusing Huida of coming to the capital to place a report to the government that Zhang was planning a revolt. Zhang Tinggui was very angry when he saw the letter. He summoned Huida to his office and beat Huida to death.
 
A few days later, Shi Yeguang suddenly saw that Huida appeared in the courtyard of his house. Huida cursed, "I spent 700,000 to fund your visit to the capital Chang’an. Instead of being grateful, you slandered me and caused my wrongful death. How could you treat me like that!" Huida jumped into the house and held onto Shi. After a long time, Huida disappeared. Shi’s servants all witnessed this encounter. Shi died a few days later.
 
Cultivators must cultivate diligently and with a pure heart. They cannot ruin themselves, the cultivator community and the pure land of Buddhism with their attachment to fame and wealth. The heavenly principle of good and evil retribution applies to everyone.
 
(According to "Taiping Guangji")
 
师夜光假修遭恶报
 
师夜光，唐代著名和尚。师夜光是蓟门人，小时候聪敏好学，喜欢钻研佛学，于是出家为僧。他住在蓟门苦苦钻研佛学十年，自觉穷尽了佛学的玄奥，天目也开了，能看见鬼。有个很富的和尚叫惠达，积攒了金钱巨万，却对佛学不甚了了。惠达贪图得点师夜光的学问，师夜光也看中惠达的钱财，两个人就有事没事联络联络，你提点礼物，我传点心得，互通有无，相互吹捧，一来二往，就成了亲密朋友。
 
当时玄宗皇帝敬佛礼道，喜欢延揽名僧方士。师夜光却囊中羞涩，不能西去长安。师夜光自叹空有绝世才学，却因为少了几个阿堵物就蹉跎终身，心里常怏怏不乐。惠达知道了师夜光的心思，就出钱七十万资助师夜光出行，说：“大师您的学艺材用，我窃以为天下没有比大师更高明的了。当今圣上提拔天下英俊，我们和尚一定能高人一头，沐浴皇恩。大师去长安后，一定平步青云，既是佛门高僧、又是天子重臣的那一天指日可待。但是到那个时候，我一定会来投奔大师，希望您不要忘了我这个老朋友。”师夜光说：“幸蒙大师厚赠，我才得以西上长安。倘若我做到五品官，他日一定借机报答大师的恩惠。”
 
师夜光来到长安，贿赂九仙公主左右，得到了召见的机会。唐玄宗于是在温泉召见师夜光，命令宦官挑选十多名博学的僧人与师夜光辩论佛学。师夜光演绎经典，畅论玄理，发挥疑义，众僧没有谁敢与他一争高下。唐玄宗惊奇师夜光的辩才，下诏赐给师夜光银印朱绶，拜为四门博士，日日陪伴唐玄宗左右，还赐给师夜光豪华宅第和数以千计的金钱彩缎。
 
师夜光成为天子宠臣，红极一时。但遇到深不可测的高人，师夜光的那点小能小术也有难堪的时候。唐玄宗曾召张果老挨著自己坐，叫师夜光用天目来看张果老到底是何方神圣。师夜光来了，说：“张果老今天到哪里去了？”其实张果老就在他对面坐著呢。
 
惠达听说师夜光发达了，就从蓟门千里迢迢来到长安找师夜光，也想捞个一官半职。师夜光听说惠达来了，却很不高兴，他以为惠达是来找他讨债的。惠达察言观色，明白师夜光不欢迎自己，于是告辞离去。
 
惠达北归一个多月，师夜光还不放心，他担心惠达还会再来打秋风。师夜光竟想出一条毒计，写密信给蓟门统帅张廷珪，说：“最近惠达大师来到京城，诬蔑大人在蓟门修缮兵器、图谋不轨，此谣言不胫而走，颇有人知道。大人的忠诚，天下皆知，我岂信捕风捉影的谣言？我只是担心积毁销金，大人不可不戒啊！”张廷珪震惊愤怒，即刻召来惠达鞭杀。
 
几天后，师夜光突然看见惠达来到庭中，骂师夜光说：“我拿七十万钱资助你西上长安，你怎么马上反过来诬告我，使我冤死！你怎能这么对不起我！”说完就跃上堂来，拽住师夜光不放，很久才消失不见，师夜光的家童都看见了这件事。几天后，师夜光一命呜呼。
 
修炼人一定要真修，不能为求名求利败坏了佛门净土和修炼界声誉。对任何人来说，善恶有报是天理。
 
（据《太平广记》）