佛祖統紀 37.27

37.27

In the sixth year, the lay practitioner Fu Xi of Wushang went to Mount Song and built a hut between two birchleaf pear trees, calling himself the Great Being Shanhui, the Future Descent of the Twin Trees. He sent a disciple carrying a letter to the imperial palace, addressing the Emperor as the Lord of the State, the Bodhisattva Savior of the World. The imperial decree replied: 'The Great Being wishes to come to save sentient beings; let it be as he pleases.' The Emperor had the gates locked beforehand to observe his wonders. The Great Being pulled a wooden mallet from his sleeve, struck it once, and all the gates opened. He met the Emperor in the Shanyan Hall. The usher called out praise three times, but he did not bow, walking straight up to the imperial couch to speak face to face. After the vegetarian meal was finished, he left for Mount Zhong and sat under the pines of Dinglin. One day, the Great Being donned a patched robe, wore a cap, and put on shoes to see the Emperor. The Emperor asked: 'Are you a monk?' The Great Being pointed to his cap. 'Are you a Daoist?' He pointed to his shoes. 'Are you a layman?' He pointed to his patched robe. (Fenyang Zhaodai remarked: 'The Great Being was capable in many ways.') The nun Faxuan of Shanchuan recited the *Lotus Sūtra* fluently; while sitting or lying down, she saw a canopy covering her. Her parents had her leave home at Qiming Monastery; on that day, the canopy disappeared. From then on, she read widely in the sūtras and treatises, deeply exploring their profound principles. Yuanjian, Prince of Heng, as commandery governor, invited her to be the preceptor of the women of Yuecheng. The kingdom of Panpan presented Buddha relics.