佛祖統紀 22.10

22.10

Dharma Master Zhiyan's mother dreamed that she ascended the ringed spire of the Tongxuan Pagoda and sat upon it, after which he was born. At age twelve, he could recite the Lotus Sūtra by heart, and was regarded at the time as a prodigy. After shaving his head, he immediately attended lecture assemblies (since the Master passed away in the Zhenguan era, we know that the time he attended lectures was with Zhāng'ān and other masters). He once lived in seclusion at Mount Huqiu, where after spending days lecturing and performing repentance rituals, he recited the Lotus Sūtra up to three thousand times. Before the censer was even lit at night, fragrant smoke rose by itself; as soon as the water jar was empty in the evening, it secretly refilled to overflowing. These were indeed the signs of celestial youths attending upon him. He practiced the three pure karmas, cultivated the sixteen contemplations, and led five hundred people in establishing monthly fasts and lectures, maintaining this for ten years without neglect. He lectured on the Lotus Sūtra and Vimalakīrtinirdeśa thirty times each, and on the Guanyin Xuan thirty times. In the winter of the eighth year of Zhenguan, he manifested illness and saw a foreign monk holding a jeweled vase in his hand, saying, "I am Boundless Light. Later in the Pure Land, my name will be Merit-Jewel King—that is who I am." The Master said to his disciples, "Boundless Light is Mahāsthāmaprāpta. Merit-Jewel King is his name upon attaining Buddhahood. Speaking of the fruit based on the cause, he is encouraging me with this. I must be returning to the West!" He then entered meditative absorption and did not return.