One evening as 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 the 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 offense 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 money and he thanked me for it.”
After he finished his prison term, the man went to Shichiri and became his disciple.
