佛祖統紀 13.22

13.22

Dharma Master Bencheng was a native of Fenghua in Siming. He relied on Nanhu to study under Guangzhi. His aspiration favored quiet retreat, so he lived at leisure in Fachang. Advancing in both meditation and recitation, people admired his hidden virtue. The cloister director rebuilt various halls, but could not complete them for a long time. The master sighed and vowed, 'In the past, Zhizhe built thirty-six monasteries and eighty-thousand images. Today, how could our assembly fail to accomplish a single monastery?' He immediately led like-minded companions, converted the townspeople, and obtained two million coins. Joining forces to construct it, the hall and the statues were both completed. Yu Chong, Gentleman of the Editorial Service, composed a record for it, stating that the master had realized the meaning of 'flamboyantly establishing [things] within ultimate emptiness.'