大慧普覺禪師宗門武庫 1.36

1.36

Chan Master Foguang Wu'ai, in response to an imperial decree from Yong'an in Suzhou, came to reside at the Huilin Chan Cloister of the Da Xiangguo Monastery. Empress Huigong once saw from behind the curtain that when his imperial audience was finished, he departed riding through the air. From then on, she made offerings to him of the imperial meals presented by the chief caterer, and further ordered that the remnants of what the Chan master ate be brought back to the palace. She also had dharma robes made of brocade and personally attached a Chan plaque to present to him, so as to express her sincerity in revering the Dharma. In the winter months, she bestowed a red brocade curtain, down to clothing, vessels, and utensils. Foguang then turned and gave the dharma robe bestowed by the palace to Chan Master Foyin Fozhao of Fayun. Fayun again sent it to Master Zhantang of Baofeng in Hongzhou, writing in a letter: "I give this brocade dharma robe to my junior fellow monk to practice our late master's Way." When Zhantang entered stillness, it was kept to guard the mountain gate, and still exists today.