The Yamas of the Ten Courts Invite the Master to Tea
Dharma Master Shen Guang knocked out two of that
Indian monk's teeth, and since the monk didn't retaliate, the Dharma
Master figured he had the advantage--that he'd won the victory. He'd
put a barbarian monk in his place. But not long after he struck the
barbarian, the Yamas of the Ten Courts paid a call: "Dharma Master,
your life is supposed to end today. We Yamas from the Ten Courts now
wish to invite you to a meeting. We will go there to investigate your
case."
Hearing that, Dharma Master Shen Guang
exclaimed, "What?" as he watched those ten black-faced
people who claimed to be the Yamas of the Ten Courts approach him
and request his presence in the dark yin realm where he was to take
tea with King Yama. Dharma Master Shen Guang said, "Oh! What? I
still have to die? I also have to die?"
The Yamas of the Ten Courts challenged him,
"Why would you not have to die? What talents do you have that make
you think you don't have to die?"
Dharma Master Shen Guang replied, "I speak
Sutras so well that flowers rain down from the heavens and golden
lotuses well forth from the earth; doesn't that qualify me as having
ended birth and death? I still have to die?"
The Yamas of the Ten Courts said, "Of course
you have to die!"