A veteran general who was tired of battle came to Master Da-hui Zong-nie to become a monk. He said, “Now I have seen through the material world, would you be kind to give the tonsure to me and allow me to be your disciple?”

Zong-nie, “You have your family as well as much more social habits, so you can’t be a monk. Let’s wait a period of time.”

General, “I can discard everything, including my wife and children, even all my family. Please give me the tonsure right now.”

Zong-nie, “We may wait some time.”

The general had no alternative. One day he got up very early and went to the temple to worship Buddha. Master Zong-nie saw him and asked, “Why did you come so early to worship Buddha?”

The general answered, “To get rid of the inner anger.”

The master said jokingly, “Aren’t you afraid your wife will commit adultery when you leave home?

Hearing this, the general got extremely angry, “You old monster are too offensive to say that!”

Master Zong-nie said laughingly, “Immediately provoked, you fly into a fury. With such a hot temper, how can you discard everything?”