佛祖統紀 22.12

22.12

Dharma Master Chujin was of the Cheng clan of Guangping. He left household life at age seven. When paying homage to the Tripiṭaka and drawing lots for a scripture, the Lotus Sūtra came into his hand. At age nine, he took the full precepts at Longxing Monastery in the Western Capital and studied the teachings of Zhiyi. Once, when reciting the sūtra to the "Chapter on the Apparition of the Jeweled Stupa," his body and mind became calm and still, and the jeweled stupa suddenly manifested, with Śākyamuni's emanations filling the realms of empty space. He sat in meditation for six years, vowing to erect this stupa. Once his sincere resolve was voiced, donors and faithful supporters arrived naturally. On the night the foundation was built, while he was reciting the sūtra and circumambulating, the crowd heard heavenly music and rare fragrances. Emperor Xuanzong dreamed of the two characters "Chu Jin" in the air. When he inquired about it the next morning, everyone pointed to the Master. The Emperor thereupon personally brushed the plaque for the Prabhūtaratna Stupa and bestowed fine silks and cash to assist him. On the day of completion, five-colored auspicious clouds gathered over the stupa. The Master said to his fellow practitioners, "When digging a well one reaches mud, the water is not far off; when drilling wood produces heat, getting fire can be expected. We seven have forged a single resolve, chanting scriptures day and night with incense smoke unbroken." Thereupon, in both spring and autumn, he gathered forty-nine monks to practice the Lotus Samādhi, and an imperial decree permitted this to become an established custom. Over time, seven hundred relic grains were wondrously obtained. He wrote the Lotus Sūtra and Bodhisattva Precepts Sūtra in his own blood to pray for the Emperor. He copied one thousand sets of the Lotus Sūtra, and thirty-six sets in gold characters to enshrine in the jeweled stupa; he also copied another thousand sets to distribute among the faithful. His teaching affinity being fulfilled, he passed away resting on his right side. Though the fuel was consumed and the flame extinguished, his radiant white countenance appeared as if alive. The Son of Heaven ordered a stupa to be erected west of the city. In the thirteenth year of Zhenyuan, Dou Wenchang, the Commissioner for Merit and Virtue of the Left Street, presented a memorial stating that the late Master Chujin had erected a stupa for the state at the beginning of the Tianbao era and established the Lotus Bodhimaṇḍa, where the monastic assembly had performed reverence and recitation for over sixty years without the sound of scriptures ceasing, requesting an imperial commendation. An imperial decree posthumously titled him Dharma Master Dayuan.