The great master once said:"If one must be awe of someone,

be in awe of man of great consequence.

While I was in Sung China, the great Abbot of the temple on

Mt. (Jp.) Tendo whose name was (Jp.) Nyojo, asked me

to follow him as the intendant of the temple.

He asked me in these words: "Gen, you are a foreigner,

yet you are capable of great deeds."

I firmly refused his offer. The reason I gave is as follows:

"To have such a thing known throughout Japan would be

a great honour, as would the benefits be to my own practice

of learning the Way, yet I must say that if such a wise man

were to appear among the body of monks, there would be

much misgiving over the fact that having a foreigner

succeed the abbot would be tantamount, in their eyes,

to the lack of a suitable candidate at home.

Of this, I would have the utmost respect. "

I put the matter in writing and sent it off to the master,

who upon reading it, forgave me for my refusal and

for the importance I placed on country and

on respect for others. He never asked me again.

(Translation by KLR)