佛祖統紀 16.57

16.57

Dharma Master Mingzhe was surnamed Zhou, from Yin County of Siming, and styled himself Ze'an. He was born after his mother dreamt of swallowing a precious pearl. At eighteen, he received full ordination and immediately traveled to study in various quarters. Relying on Fazhao of Nengren, he received teaching and contemplation. At that time, among those of the same name in the assembly, ten were called the 'Ten Sages,' and the Master was the most prominent. He also called upon Chan monasteries everywhere, meeting Hongzhi of Tiantong, Dahui of Ayuwang, and Yugu of Guoqing; all anticipated that he would become a great vessel of the Dharma. He once said: 'What the Chan monasteries call "directly pointing to the human mind, seeing one's nature and attaining Buddhahood" is none other than our school's "a single moment of mind inherently endowed with the three thousand realms."' Hongzhi heard this and said: 'Observing your subtle understanding, you should return to propagate the doctrinal teachings.' He initially presided over Chaoguo in Changguo, then moved to Juehai, Yinxue, and Yongming. He was devoted to lecturing and instructing without a single day of leisure. Students dared not ask for leave. The prefectural military commissioner Fan Chengda invited him to preside over Nanhu. At that time, his audience consisted entirely of outstanding talents from the four quarters; newcomers feared only falling behind, and all said to one another: 'Ascending the Dragon Gate is indeed today!' Daily the Master recited the *Shorter Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra*; if it was touched in the slightest by human words, he would immediately recite it again, saying that mundane words should not be mixed with sacred scriptures (his memorial day is the sixteenth day of the sixth month).