15.THE MAN WHO DIDN'T MIND BEING EXECUTED

　　 The real name of the Master Yungming was Yanshou, and after he died, the Emperor bestowed the name Zhijue on him, but everyone calls him Master Yungming because he lived in the Yungming Temple of Hangzhou.
　
　　 Before he left the householder's life and became a monk, he was called Wang. When he was in his twenties, he was an official in the treasury of Yuhang county near Hangchou. He felt sorry for fish and shrimp that had been caught to be eaten, so sometimes he took money out of the treasury to buy them. Then he took them to the shore and released them.

　　 Unfortunately, that wasn't his money, and finally he got caught. He was thrown in jail.

　　 The judge didn't believe he was spending the money to set little animals free.He convicted Wang of stealing government money. This is a very serious crime. In those days, the punishment was beheading -- the convict was dragged out to a public place where everybody could watch and his head was chopped off with a big sword. Those who saw this horrifying punishment were always scared!

　　 King Zhungyi of Wuyue knew that Wang was a very kind man and released a lot of little animals. Maybe he bought the animals with government money? He told the officials at the execution to observe Wang's words and deeds very carefully.
　
　　 When Wang was dragged out to get his head chopped off, he did not seem frightened at all. He was not even nervous. In fact, he seemed to be very relaxed and cheerful. The executioner had never seen anything like this! He very respectfully asked him, "All the other convicts I've ever beheaded have trembled and cried. I have never seen anyone like you before. How can you be so calm? You're about to be killed for using the government's money, you know."
　
　　 Wang answered, "Yes, I did use the government's money, but I didn't spend any of it on myself. I used it to buy animals and set them free. So what is there for me to be afraid of? As soon as you chop of my head, I can go to the Pure Land of Amitabha. Isn't that wonderful? I can hardly wait!"
　　
　　When the officials in charge of the execution heard that, they knew that Wang was honest. They admired his integrity and his calm bravery. They told the executioner to let him go, and pardoned him.
　
　　 A few years later, when he was thirty, Wang became a monk, and a very good monk he was! He let go of all his petty worries. He achieved enlightenment and wrote several important books. When he died in 975 AD at the age of 72,Amitabha came to take him to the Pure Land.
　

15. 不怕砍头的人

　　永明大师的真名是延寿，他圆寂后，朝廷追授他智觉公。因为他住在杭州的永明寺里，大家还是习惯称他永明大师。
　　
　　他出家前，俗姓王。二十几岁的时候，他在杭州附近的余杭县当官，管理财政。他很同情那些被抓来吃掉的鱼虾，所以有时他就从财库中拿出钱来买鱼虾，然后把它们带到岸边放生。
　　
　　很不幸的是，那些钱并不是他的，最后他被发现了，并被投进监狱。

　　判官并不相信他把那些钱用于将小动物放生。他判王为盗用公款罪。当时此罪是重罪，会被砍头——犯人被带到一个公众场所，在那里所有的人都可以看到他的头被一柄大刀砍落。凡是看过这种酷刑的人没有不害怕的！

　　越王知道王是一个很善良的人并且曾经放生过很多小动物。也许他是用政府的钱来买那些动物的吧。他叮嘱监斩官们仔细观察王临刑的言行。

　　当王被拖出来准备行刑时，他看起来一点也不害怕，也不紧张。实际上，他看起来非常的轻松愉快。监斩官从来没见过这种情形。他恭恭敬敬地问王：“我见过 的所有其他要被砍头的犯人，没有不害怕得发抖哭泣的。我还没见过一个象你这样的，你为什么这么平静呢？你很快就要因盗用公款罪而被杀头了，知道吗?”

　　王回答道：“是，我是挪用了公款，但是我并没有把钱花在自己身上。我用它们买了动物放生。我何惧之有？我的头一掉，正好可以到西方净土去。我迫不及待呢！”
　　监斩官听了以后，他们知道王说的是真的。他们很钦佩他的正直、沉着和刚毅。他们放了他，并且原谅了他。

　　过了几年，三十岁的时候，王出了家，他成为了一个了不起的僧人！他断尽所有的微细烦恼，开悟了，还撰写成了几本重要的书。他于公元975年圆寂，时年72岁，阿弥陀佛亲自接他往生极乐净土。