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這位是常仁大師的一個師弟，是我這一個笨徒弟的師父。我師父不識字，
我作夢讀了幾天書，所以斗大的字也認識幾筐。那時候也就因為我也識字不多，所以就拜一個不認識字的人作師父。
「智公東北吉林雙城人」：他和我都是雙
城縣的人，連這個常仁大師都是雙城縣
的人。「俗姓孟」：他俗家姓孟，一般人稱他叫孟打頭的。怎麼叫打頭的呢？就是做工的時候，他帶著一班工人去做工，這叫
打頭的，就是工頭––做工頭的。又叫
孟豆腐匠，怎麼叫孟豆腐匠呢？他會做豆腐。因為會做豆腐，所以也歡喜吃齋。那麼這個常仁大師在守孝的時候，他做豆腐，賣了，賺的錢就供養常仁大師––買一
點米啊的東西，他前三年給他送飯，也都是他做豆腐，或者給人當打頭賺的錢，一方面養家，一方面也供養這個王孝子。所以他們兩個是好侶伴，也是算朋友。那麼
以後他出家就拜他作師兄，拜上修下雲老和尚為師。
「雖未讀書」：他一天書也沒有讀過，一
個字也不認識，「但忠厚誠實」：可是
他做人忠厚誠實，很誠實、不打妄語，就是沒出家、沒修道以前也是不打妄語的。「以農為業」：就是做個莊業。做莊業，所
以他就做打頭的。「待人和藹」：他對
人都是和和氣氣的，「處事公平」：做什麼事都是很公道的。「以吃虧為宗旨」：他都
是吃虧讓人，「故為人做工」：所以他給人做工的時候，「多做少取工資」：
他做工做得多，拿錢拿得少。「有捨己為人之精神」：有專門幫助旁人的精神。
「當常仁大師廬墓時」：就在守孝的時
候，「發心護法」：他就護持他。「前三
年」：常仁大師守孝守六年，在前三年，「每日送飯」：他都在送飯。「風雨無阻」：
無論什麼時候都是不耽誤。「後三年」，「仁公食生米麵」：他吃這個生米
麵，是用涼水一和這個生米麵，就吃那個東西。「亦所供給」：就是他給他預備好，給他拿去的。「受仁公
之啟示」：受常仁大師的感化、感招，「萌出家之念」：
所以他就有這個出家的念頭。「公於四十餘歲時」：在他四十多歲那時候，覺得自己年齡也差不多了，所以就想要出家，要修
道去了。「其妻及子女等」：那麼他很
多個兒子、很多個女兒和他太太，「抱公之腿」：大家就抱著他的腿，「痛哭不放」：
就是都放聲大哭，不給他出家。「公曰」：那麼這位常智大師就說，「若不放
手」：你們如果不放我，「明日向外抬棺材」：明天就有個死人要用棺材裝上去了。你們看怎樣？「全
家無計可施」：他的太太和子女等，沒有辦法了。「即時出
家，拜上修下雲老和尚為師」，「專修淨土」：他就修這個念佛法門。
「後於張彥明家閉關」：在那兒閉關一個
時期，「明心見性」。「出關後」：等
他出關了以後，「智慧開朗」：誰也不知道他，可是他也沒有對誰說：「我開悟了，我怎樣了！」什
麼都不講的。真修行人，不會自己賣廣告的，不會自己有一點點
的什麼，就說我自己了不起啦，我自己怎樣子，又有什麼神通。不會這樣講。那麼智慧開朗，「出口成章」：他說出話都是像
不知多有學問那個樣的人所講的。「辯
才無礙」：他辨別這個理也是誰也辯不過他。「當時知識分子」：這一般讀書的人，「甚
為驚奇」：因為他沒有讀過書，他講話能這麼樣子文雅，所以都很驚奇， 「皆嘆莫及」：都認為自己
雖然讀書，也沒有他的學問這麼好。「後
念佛而逝」：以後他就念佛，自己就往生了。
偈曰：
忠厚樸實秉性
誠，熱心慈善務圃農；
殷勤工作取半價，儉約自奉待人豐。
成就他人為快樂，維護孝者作茅棚；
毅然出家無罣礙，頓斷勞塵愛欲情。
「忠厚樸實秉性誠」：他就很誠實，沒有
什麼的；他又忠厚又老實，那麼性也很
誠實。「熱心慈善務圃農」：他歡喜做善事，但是他的職業就是在家裡種種地，給人家做打頭的，就做這個。「慇
勤工作取半價」：他給人家去做工的時候，做的工
很多，但是要很少的錢。「儉約自奉待人豐」：他自己吃的、穿的、住的，都很儉樸、很儉約的，可是他對人就很厚道、很
好。
「成就他人為快樂」：他以助人為快樂之
本，他願意幫助他人，以這個為快樂。 「維護孝者做茅棚」：他維護這個孝者––盡孝的人，那麼他就好像給他造茅棚，
來
給他避風避雨。「毅然出家無罣礙」：那麼他時機到了，他就什麼也不管了，家
裡的太太也不要了，兒子、女兒也都不要了，不管他們了。無罣礙，什麼也不罣了。「頓斷勞塵愛欲情」：頓斷，頓然就斬斷
這個塵勞，世界一切七情六慾這一些個
塵勞。愛欲情––愛和欲，這種的物欲，和情都不要了，都斬斷了。
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Great Master
Changzhi was Great Master Changren junior Dharma brother, and he was
also the teacher of me, this stupid disciple. My teacher was
illiterate. I studied for a few days in my dreams so I know a few
characters. At that time, since I wasn a learned person, I bowed to an
illiterate person as my teacher.
The Venerable Zhi was a
native of Shuangcheng County in Jilin Province, Manchuria. He
and I, and Great Master Changren as well, were all born in Shuangcheng
County. His lay surname was Meng. He was born to the
Meng family. People called him “Boss Meng.” They called him “Boss”
because he was the foreman for a group of laborers. He was also called
“Soybean Milk Meng” because he knew how to make soybean cake (tofu).
Since he had that skill, he was fond of vegetarian food. When Master
Changren (Filial Son Wang) was living at his parents’ graveside in the
practice of filial mourning, Master Changzhi provided him with rice and
other necessities. He used the money he earned from selling tofu and
doing labor to provide for his own family and to support Filial Son
Wang. Thus, the two were close companions and good friends. Later, when
Master Changzhi left the home-life, he bowed to Master Xiuyun as his
teacher, and Master Changren became his elder Dharma brother.
Though he was illiterate,
he was honest, loyal, and sincere. Since Master Changzhi had
never been to school, he was completely illiterate. On the other hand,
he was loyal and honest in character. He never told a lie in his life,
even before he left the home-life and began cultivating. He
made a living by farming. Farming was his occupation, and he
was the leader of a work team. He was amiable and fair, and he
lived by the principle of taking losses. He was kind and
courteous to others, and he did things fairly. He knew how to take
losses and yield to others. Thus when he worked as a laborer
he always did more than what he was paid for. When he worked
for others, he would do a lot of work but take low wages. He
had the spirit of renouncing himself for the sake of others. He
was devoted to helping others.
When Great Master Changren
was practicing filial piety beside his parents’ grave, he resolved to
protect him. During Master Changren’s mourning period, the
Master Changzhi supported him. In the first three years he
brought him meals every day, rain or shine. During the first
three years of Master Changren’s six-year mourning period, Master
Changzhi brought him food without fail. During the last three
years, Master Changren ate uncooked rice flour, which were also
provided by him. Great Master Changren ate raw rice flour
mixed with cold water. Inspired by Master Changren, he thought
of leaving the home-life. He was often moved and inspired by
Master Changren. Thus he gave rise to the thought of leaving the
home-life. When he wanted to leave the home-life at over forty
years of age, his wife and children held onto his legs. At the
age of forty-some years, he felt it was time for him to leave the
home-life and cultivate the Way. He had many sons and daughters, and
they, as well as his wife, held onto his legs. They wept
bitterly and would not let go. They wailed and refused to let
him leave the home-life. The Master said, “If you do not let
go, then be prepared to carry me out in a coffin tomorrow.” He
said, “If you don’t let me go, there will be a dead person who will
need a coffin tomorrow.” What happened? The whole family was
helpless. There was nothing his wife and children could do. Immediately,
he left the home-life and bowed to Master Xiuyun as his teacher. He
specialized in cultivating the Pure Land Dharma door. He
cultivated the Dharma door of reciting the Buddha’s name.
Later, he went into
seclusion in the house of Chang Yanming. After he went into
seclusion for a period of time, he understood his mind and saw
his nature. After he came out of seclusion, his
wisdom opened up. No one knew him, nor did he tell anyone,
“I’m enlightened.” He kept silent. Genuine cultivators do not advertise
themselves. They do not boast about every little achievement, saying
things like, “I’m fantastic. I have spiritual powers.” Having attained
to wisdom, he was able to speak in erudite language and with
great eloquence. He spoke like an very learned person. He
explained the principles so well that no one could outdebate him. The
educated were all amazed and sighed that they could not measure up to
him. The educated people were surprised that an illiterate
person could talk in such a refined manner. Although they had received
formal schooling, they all felt they were not as learned as he was. Later,
he passed away while reciting the Buddha’s name. He recited
the Buddha’s name and went to rebirth.
A verse says:
His nature was loyal, simple, and sincere.
He was a farmer
who enjoyed doing good deeds.
Though he
worked hard, he asked for only half
the pay.
He lived a
frugal life, yet was generous with
others.
Helping others
was a joy to him.
Supporting the
filial son, he built a straw
hut.
Free of cares
and worries, he resolutely
renounced the home-life.
And abruptly
severed the mundane defilements
of love, desire, and emotion.
His nature was loyal,
simple, and sincere. He was honest and unaffected; his
dispostion was wholesome, loyal, and ingenuous. He was a
farmer who enjoyed doing good deeds. He took delight in doing
good deeds. He made a living by tilling his own fields or working for
others. Though he worked hard, he asked for only half the pay.
When he worked for others, he did a lot of
work but asked for little pay. He lived a frugal life, yet was
generous with others. He ate, dressed, and lived thriftily
himself, but was generous with others.
Helping others was a joy
to him. He found happiness in lending a helping hand. Helping
others gave him joy. Supporting the filial son, he built a
straw hut. He protected a person in his practice of filial
piety. His protection was like a straw hut that sheltered the filial
one from the wind and rain. Free of cares and worries, he
resolutely renounced the home-life. When the time was right,
he put everything behind him. He was no longer attached to his wife,
sons, or daughters. He didn’t worry about them anymore. He had no more
worries. And abruptly severed the mundane defilements of love,
desire, and emotion. He cut off all worldly desires and
emotions at once. He got rid of love and material desires, as well as
emotions.
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