國清百錄 3.39

3.39

On the twenty-ninth day of the first month, Zongchi respectfully states: All conditioned things are impermanent; this is the law of arising and ceasing. Even Buddhas and pratyekabuddhas cast aside their impermanent bodies; now that the Great Master Zhizhe has shifted his responsive transformation and his spirit has departed, my grief and pain are overwhelming, and the longing and mourning are unbearable. He is gone forever—what can be done, what can ever be done? The two attendants, Guanding and Puming, delivered the farewell letter, the Contemplation of the Mind, the commentary on the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa, the rhinoceros-horn ruyi, the lotus censer, along with the memorial from Dharma Master Zhiyue and the whole assembly. Looking upon them, my choked sorrow grew, as if his virtuous voice were still present. I immediately had the spiritual traces of his passing recorded in order: the auspicious omens were clearly manifest and his own account was distinct. His whole-body relic remains sitting peacefully to this day; this was not the realization of a lesser fruit of a śrāvaka, but definitely an entry into the great stage of a bodhisattva. I had always heard that he attained the Lotus Samādhi, and only now is the unretrograde wheel of the Dharma verified; beholding Amitābha, Avalokiteśvara, and Mahāsthāmaprāpta face to face, and using his knowledge of past lives to reflect back upon this land, how could the fourfold disciples not strive diligently? Reflecting on my own unworthiness, I have no way to repay him; I can only respectfully rely upon his entrusted charge and dare not forget it. The saṅghārāma that ought to be built on the demarcated plot: when Sudatta stretched the measuring cord, the heavenly palace straightaway responded down to the vajra limit. Since there is an essential path, it should be built and repaired, entirely following the original intent. Formerly, when Confucius passed away, his disciples guarded the tomb for three years, and Zigong's group even did so for six years. How much more so when just establishing a monastery to plant the foundation of blessings forever! Let the monks currently present there take care not to disperse; as long as you plan for the Way, why worry about lacking food? Expecting the future life, the Western Direction is not far; but if you grow lax and withdraw, the jewel pond will be extremely distant. I am now dispatching an envoy to reverently perform repentance and bowing at the summit of Folong Peak, cultivating blessings and establishing a fast, entirely as stated in the prayer text, briefly expressing my humble thoughts. As the two monks are now returning, I send this condolence letter especially. Yang Guang states. Eleventh month, fifth day.