國清百錄 3.15

3.15

Academician of the Opening of the Office Liu Guyan proclaimed the decree that the practice of the Suvarṇaprabhāsa has reached completion, pure and perfect like the full moon of the fifteenth day, and by your grace convicts and exiles are released and spared flogging and punishment. Forty-five persons in all, including Pan Huida, Upper Grand Master of the Opening of the Office, and Zhang Siniang, Equal to the Three Excellencies, were granted for consideration. I immediately investigated the details in accordance with the affair. I submit that the appearance of a single person in the world brings benefit to many people; the pure and benevolent ruling of the secular world belongs respectfully to the wheel-turning king. Based on this sūtra, it says: 'If they have violated the king's laws and are bound in cangues and chains with various afflictions, let them all be liberated.' Moreover, the Guanding jing says: 'The king should grant pardon to those who are wronged and distressed; when convicts and chains are released, the king attains his blessings. The realm will be peaceful, rain will fall in season, and the people will be secure and happy.' The purport of the decree accords with the sūtra text; is this not the power of planting roots of virtue and compassionate roots of goodness in past lives? Inadvertently, by great fortune, I have been favored with this grand occasion, leading and encouraging the sangha to keep pure fast and perform ablutions, whereupon the dragon king poured down rain, with sweet moisture reaching all around. Thereupon the prison gates were opened, manacles and fetters were cast off, and the convicts and exiles were pardoned, not one of whom did not dance for joy, extolling your kindness in the palace halls and redoubling their gratitude. We sent them off with superior banners, hung them on the jewel stupa, ascended high places to scatter flowers, burned incense, and lit bright candles; we also detained them for offerings, preached the Dharma, and enlightened them, causing them all to turn toward goodness. As for the monk Fayun and others, although they wore the Dharma robes, they were unable to cultivate their minds; bodily violating the state laws, they brought defilement to the stream of the Way. Thinking of how they came forth, deep fear and profound shame arise; I informed the great assembly to detain them for seven days, admonishing and bestowing gifts on them day and night, temporarily applying expulsion to make them feel ashamed and warned. The monk so-and-so respectfully states. Sixteenth day of the tenth month.