四明尊者教行錄 5.64

5.64

（億）啟：違闊已來，傾凝何極。輒有聞白，不避瀆煩。頃者貴郡天台教主　禮大師，精修懺儀，前約歲紀，將趨火化以泯身緣。（億）素聞其風，輒伸首勸，以其通赤城之祕典、啟淛水之度門，逈傳止觀之妙機、允續能仁之慧命，實經論之龍虎、作黑暗之明燈，儻住世之久如，固利生之䆮廣。函封沓委，志願確堅。率和四眾之情，叩端不已；度越重江之阻，馳訊繼臻。得其來音，頗似相許，尚慮持於宿誓，或匪顧於幻軀，望敦外護之心，共延住壽之數，叶宣大教，克樹勝因。遐祝在茲，繁述為此。凜冬冠序，精攝是宜。

[Yang] Yi states: Since our parting, how extreme has been my yearning! I take the liberty of speaking to you, not avoiding being troublesome. Recently, the Tiantai leader of your esteemed commandery, the Great Master [Zhi]li, has been meticulously cultivating the repentance ritual; having previously set a term of years, he was about to proceed to cremation to end his bodily conditions. I have long heard of his renown and took the liberty of extending the initial exhortation, because he is versed in the secret scriptures of Chicheng, opens the gate of deliverance at the Zhe River, remotely transmits the wondrous dynamic of calming and contemplation, and truly continues the wisdom-life of Śākyamuni. He is truly a dragon and tiger of the sūtras and treatises, acting as a bright lamp in the darkness. If he remains in the world for a long time, the benefit to living beings will certainly be ever broader. Letters have been sent repeatedly, yet his will and vows are steadfast. Leading the sentiments of the fourfold assembly, I have knocked at his door unceasingly; crossing the obstacle of multiple rivers, swift inquiries have arrived one after another. Having received his reply, it seems somewhat agreeable; yet I still fear he may hold to his past vow and perhaps not care for this phantom body. I hope you will strengthen your heart of external protection, and together we may prolong the span of his life, harmoniously propagating the Great Teaching and successfully establishing superior causes. My distant wishes lie in this, and for this reason I write at length. In the bitter cold of winter, it is fitting to take meticulous care of yourself.