- Bahk Geum-gohk’s Wish
- 1 Geum-gohk once requested of Jeung-san, “Please allow me to remain head monk of this temple for the rest of my life.” Jeung-san promised He would grant this wish.
- 2 Then, Geum-gohk said, “I would like to know about the purpose of my work.”
- 3 “You are the reincarnation of Great Monk Wul-gwahng, and your work in this life was to rebuild this temple.”
- 4 Geum-gohk made another request, “Please let me live to be ninety.”
- 5 Jeung-san consented. “You will die from your old ailment.”
- 6 Geum-gohk lived the rest of his life as the head monk of Dae-wun Temple. Before meeting Jeung-san, Geum-gohk had injured his lower back; later, at ninety, he would die of a sickness stemming from that injury.
- 7 Geum-gohk made yet another request, “There are many persimmon trees around this temple, but they are all barren. Please make them bear fruit.”
- 8 “This is the result of Great Monk Jin-mook’s bitterness and grief,” explained Jeung-san. “From next year on, they will bear plenty of fruit.” In the years following, there were many persimmons.
- (JSD Dojeon 2,9)
