白狐皈依守戒
丙子九十七岁。春乃传戒。后有国府主席林公子超。居院长正。蒋公中正等来寺助修各工程。时曹溪驻防。十六团长林国赓。携一白狐至。送放生。公为说皈依竟。放之山中。不去。如家犬守于寺中。后被车伤腿。公为说偈超度。
宣化偈曰:
白狐皈依更灵通。蒋公骤至远相迎。
入丈引公出见客。彼此握手笑盈盈。
Letting a white fox take refuge and uphold the precepts
In the spring of 1936, the precepts were transmitted as usual. The Master was ninety-seven. Later, the Chief of State Lin Tzu Ch'ao, House Speaker Chu Cheng, and General Chiang Kai-shek, among others, came to the monastery and lent their aid to the renovation. At that time, the Sixteenth Route Army was garrisoned at Ts'ao Hsi, and its leader, Lin Kuo Keng, brought a white fox to the monastery to be set free. The Master explained to the fox the meaning of taking refuge, and it was released in the mountains. Refusing to leave, it remained in the monastery area like a pet dog. Later on it was injured by a cart, and the Master spoke a verse to cross over its spirit.
The gatha says:
A white fox receiving the Triple Jewel is truly magical,
General Chiang arrived from afar, and was heartily welcomed.
The Master came out to greet his guests,
Shaking hands all around and laughing heartily.