四明尊者教行錄 4.144

4.144

Fazhi's learning and conduct were lofty and wondrous. In all of his writings, he never failed to establish the essential doctrine, refute eccentric errors, and encourage people's minds to reach the ground of truth. In the *Zhiyao chao*, he cited Guifeng's *Later Collection* to compare and determine profound subtleties. When Chan Master Ning of Tiantong first saw it, he rejoiced, but thought that what was cited contained a slight discrepancy and merely wished Fazhi to correct it. Their letters went back and forth for about twenty exchanges. Toward the end, it even said that the assent of a thousand gentlemen is not as good as the forthright criticism of one gentleman, which ensures that the Great Dharma will flow down through a hundred generations without flaw or blemish. In the past, I personally saw this letter: its calligraphy was like Zhong You's, and its language was like Han Tuizhi's—truly lovable! Some say that Fazhi made a slight correction because of this. I have also heard that after the *Zhiyao chao* appeared, Chan Master Xian of Xuedou specially came out of the mountain and prepared a vegetarian feast to celebrate, and there was still a tea placard detailing the beauty of the event, though I have not seen it. I once saw that when Guangzhi first presided over the Dharma assembly at Nanhu, even though Master Xian was already old, he also put up a placard to boil tea. I only remember its large hemp paper with a tall heading, and its small, archaic characters. From this, one knows that Fazhi's era was not in vain. In ancient times, Chan and doctrinal teachings were of one substance and esteemed each other's fellowship, even to such a degree as this.