佛祖統紀 11.36

11.36

Dharma Master Zilin was bestowed the name Cishou. In his youth he studied under Cijue and deeply awakened to the perfect purport. He also visited Chan Master Fozhi Yu to re-examine the essentials of mind. At that time, Tianzhu was requested by Empress Dowager Cifu to perform meritorious services, and the Master received the imperial decree to reside on the mountain. For twenty-eight years, whenever he lectured, he only brought up the essential tenets. When companions of the Chan tradition who had heard of his reputation came, all submitted to his eloquence. Chan Master Dahui Gao visited him and conversed vigorously with him, unaware of the arrival of dawn. He said to the Master: “People of today only know that the Elder Master possesses doctrine; Jingshan, however, acknowledges that the Elder Master possesses Chan.” He inscribed his portrait, saying: “He has awakened to the dhāraṇī-turn samādhi, / And attained great sovereignty over all phenomena. / Upon the tip of his tongue the ocean waves billow; / The supreme truth is never contravened.” In the spring of the first year of Qiandao of Emperor Xiaozong [1165], the emperor summoned the Master to inquire about the Way. The Emperor said: “We wish to read sūtras; which should be taken as the essential?” The Master said: “The Diamond and the Perfect Enlightenment are the most essential paths.” The Emperor said: “What about practicing Chan?” The Master said: “Chan must be awakened to by oneself.” The Emperor said: “What is to be taken as the practice?” The Master said: “When body and mind are clear and tranquil, after a long time one will naturally accord with it.” The Emperor was pleased. Later, when summoned and asked about men of the Way in the present age, the Master answered with Huiguang of Upper Tianzhu, and the Emperor gladly accepted it. One day he said to his disciples: “I was head monk for eighteen years and recited one copy of the Lotus Sūtra every day as my daily practice. Whenever I was in dhyāna or dreaming, I would see Samantabhadra. Since becoming abbot, I have no longer seen him in dreams. I truly know that leading disciples causes harm to oneself; those words are indeed true.” He then withdrew to Caotang for half a year. Suddenly he wrote a verse, sat cross-legged, and passed away. His casket was kept for more than ten days, during a time of continuous snow, yet his body was always warm. (Below this, Lingxiang is omitted.)