樂邦遺稿 2.91

2.91

The Wuku states: “Chan Master Xuan of Guizong was a man of Hanzhou and an heir of Guangzhao of Langya, and was on intimate terms with Guo Gongfu. Suddenly one day the prefect of Nankang came upon him with some affair. Xuan dispatched someone to deliver a letter swiftly to Guo Gongfu, and enjoined the letter carrier: ‘Do not let the magistrate's lady see it.’ Gongfu was serving as the Defender of Nanchang at that time. The letter said: ‘I still have six years left of unexhausted worldly karma. Today, unable to bear being oppressed, I wish to take rebirth in your home, and look to you to look after me.’ Then he passed away. Gongfu received the letter, filled with shock and joy. At midnight, his wife faintly saw Xuan entering the bedchamber in a dream, and unconsciously blurted out: ‘This is not a place for a monk to come!’ Gongfu asked her the reason, and his wife answered with what she had seen. Gongfu called for a lamp and showed her Xuan's letter, and indeed she became pregnant. When the child was born, he was named Xuanlao. When he was barely one year old, his memory and inquiry were just as before. When he was three years old, Venerable Duan of Baiyun passed by his house. Gongfu called him out to meet him; as soon as he saw him from afar, he called him Dharma nephew. Duan said: ‘How many years have we been separated, Venerable?’ Xuan held out his fingers and said: ‘Four years.’ Duan said: ‘Where did we part?’ Xuan said: ‘At Bailian Manor.’ Duan said: ‘What is the proof?’ Xuan said: ‘Father and mother, tomorrow please invite the venerable monk to a vegetarian meal.’ Suddenly a cart passed outside the gate. Duan said: ‘What is that sound outside the gate?’ Xuan made the gesture of pushing a cart. Duan said: ‘After it passes, what is left?’ Xuan said: ‘Two ruts on flat ground.’ When he reached six years of age, he passed away without illness.”