One evening as Zen Masters Shichiri Kojun was reciting Sutras a thief with a sharp sword entered, demanding either his money or his life.
Shichiri told him: ’Do not disturb me. You can find the money in that drawer.’ then He resumed his recitation.
A little while afterwards he stopped and called: ’don’t take it all. I need some to pay taxes with tomorrow.’ The intruder gathered up most of the money and started to leave. ’Thank a person when you receive a gift,’ Shichiri added. The man thanked him and made off.
A few days afterwards the fellow was caught and confessed, among others, the offence against Shichiri. When Shichiri was called as a witness he said: ’this man is no thief, at least as far as I am concerned. I gave him the money and he thanked me for it.’
After he had finished his prison term, the man went to Shichiri and became his disciple.
