During the K’ai-pao period (968-975),[265] a monk from Kwibŏp Monastery named Chŏngsu went before a judge and laid a false accusation against the Master, saying that his religious practice was being directed to disloyal ends. The judge reported the matter to the throne, and when King Kwangjong heard of it, he was angry and quickly summoned the Master, intending to kill him when he came. But when the Master entered into the royal presence, he prostrated himself in an awe-stricken manner. When the king saw this, he believed the Master to be honest. He then countermanded his order, and had two doctors escort (the Master) out. Afterwards, he sent the Chief Counsellor Sŏl Kwang[266] to the monastery to reassure him.
That night, the king had a dream in which a spirit ten feet tall stood before him, dominating the inner apartments by its size. The spirit said: “By giving credence to flimsy accusations, Your Majesty has insulted a king of the Dharma.[267] Therefore, a great omen of ill fortune will occur.” The king awoke, his whole body covered in sweat, and he summoned his attendants and told them of the dream.
The following day, the pine trees on the northern slopes of Mount Song’ak fell over in their thousands, though there was no wind about.[268] When the king was told about this strange phenomenon, he ordered that a divination be performed. The diviner said that this had happened because a king of the Dharma had been insulted. The king grew very apprehensive at this, and so he had an altar set up in the palace to avert calamity.[269] He also ordered the judge to have Chŏngsu beheaded in the market-place, and had the place where Chŏngsu lived turned back into a pond. [Chŏngsu’s] lay elder brother had recklessly fabricated documents which had brought about his younger brother’s false accusations, and so he was put to death on the same day as Chŏngsu.
Again, the White Cloud Hall in Yŏngt’ong Monastery had gradually fallen into disrepair over many years, and the Master had it restored. But the god of the locality was offended by this and caused misfortunes to happen daily in retaliation. The Master therefore made up a song petitioning the god. The song was posted on the wall, and the spirit promptly ceased [its malevolent activity].