根源协统毁佛寺

辛亥革命。宣统逊位。到处毁寺拆庙。灭像逐僧。滇省协统。李根源领导军队。毁像拆寺。杀僧屠尼。尤以公乃穷和尚。竟能深得民心。群众拥护。岂非怪事。故指名捕之。祸将不免。危乎哉。

宣化偈曰：

诸寺僧逃公不然。如属业报何避焉。
以身殉佛比丘志。众悦诚服愿患难。

Facing danger when Commander Ken Yuan begins to destroy Buddhist Monasteries

The Chinese Revolution started in 1911, and the last Manchu Emperor, Hsuan T'ung, abdicated the throne. Everywhere monasteries and temples were laid waste, images were destroyed, and members of the Sangha were expelled. The Yunnan Provincial Commander, Li Ken Yuan, led his infantry troops in the destruction of monasteries and statues, murdering bhikshus and butchering bhikshunis. That the Master, a poor monk, could profoundly win the heart of the common multitude and be venerated and protected by them, seemed very strange to Li. So, the commander ordered his arrest. A catastrophe was imminent - dangerous indeed!

The gatha says:
All the monks of the monasteries fled, but the Master did not do so.
From one's own karmic retribution how can one escape?
To sacrifice one's body for the Buddha is a bhikshu's aspiration.
The masses took delight in complying with him and willingly suffered hardships.