佛祖統紀 41.43

41.43

In the fifth year, the Emperor asked National Preceptor Chengguan, "What is meant by the Avataṃsaka Dharma-realm?" The Preceptor said, "The Dharma-realm is the nature and essence of sentient beings. The Bhagavat, according with the nature of the Dharma-realm, preached the Avataṃsaka Sūtra; phenomena and principle mutually interpenetrate, with nothing not universally pervasive." The Emperor had a sudden awakening and ordered the competent officials to cast a gold seal, conferring on him the title "National Preceptor of Great Unity, Qingliang." / The Hanlin Academician Bai Juyi inquired about the essentials of mind from Chan Master Ning and obtained eight words, which he expanded into eight verses, namely: awakening, contemplation, concentration, wisdom, clarity, penetration, rescue, and renunciation. The verse on contemplation says: / "With the eye within the mind, / Contemplate the marks outside the mind. / From where do they arise? / From where do they perish? / Contemplating it again and again, / One distinguishes the true from the false." / (The eight verses are found in the Changqing Collection.) Bai Juyi went to Bota Temple and relied on Master Ruru to receive the eightfold purification precepts nine times. / Chan Master Zhichang of Guizong obtained the Dharma from Mazu. Li Bo, the Prefect of Jiangzhou, asked the Master, "I shall not ask about Sumeru containing a mustard seed, but what is a mustard seed containing Sumeru?" The Master said, "People say that your Excellency has read ten thousand volumes of books; is that so?" Bo said, "It is." The Master said, "From the top of your head to your heels, you are only as big as a coconut; where do you put those ten thousand volumes of books?" Because the Master had double pupils in his eyes, he rubbed them with medicinal hands, so his eye corners were completely red; the world called him "Red-Eyed Guizong." / The lay practitioner Pang Yun visited Mazu and asked, "Who is the person that does not keep company with the ten thousand dharmas?" The Patriarch said, "Wait until you swallow all the water of the West River in a single gulp, then I will tell you." At these words, the lay practitioner immediately grasped the profound essential. During the Yuanhe era, he traveled north to Xianghan and dwelt in a small cottage west of the city wall. His daughter, Lingzhao, regularly made bamboo filters and sold them to provide for their morning and evening meals. When he was about to pass away, he ordered Lingzhao to go outside to look at the time of day and report when it was noon. The daughter hastily said, "The sun has already reached the zenith, but there is an eclipse!" The lay practitioner stepped out the door to look at it; his daughter immediately mounted her father's seat, joined her palms, and passed away sitting. The lay practitioner laughed and said, "My daughter is sharp and swift!" Thereupon he stayed for another seven days. The Prefect Yu Di inquired about his illness. The lay practitioner said to him, "I only wish to empty all that exists, and take care never to substantiate all that does not exist." Having spoken, he rested his head on the Duke's knee and passed away. / An imperial decree ordered Imperial Advisor Meng Jian and Exhorter Xiao Mian to supervise the translation of scriptures and polish the style at Liquan Temple. / Chan Master Wuzhe entered Mount Wutai seeking to see Mañjuśrī. Coming to the Diamond Cave, he saw an old mountain man leading an ox beside a stream. Wuzhe said, "I wish to see the Mahāsattva." The old man led the ox home, and Wuzhe followed him into a monastery. The old man called for Juntī, and a boy came out to welcome them. The old man led Wuzhe up to the hall to sit; the boy offered a tortoiseshell cup and they drank fermented milk together, whereupon Wuzhe felt his mind suddenly clear and luminous. The old man asked, "Where have you come from recently?" He replied, "From the south." The old man said, "How is the Buddha-Dharma maintained in the south?" He replied, "The monks of this degenerate age seldom uphold the precepts." The old man said, "How large are the assemblies?" He replied, "Some three hundred, some five hundred." Wuzhe asked, "How is the Buddha-Dharma maintained here?" The old man said, "Dragons and snakes mingle; ordinary mortals and sages dwell together." He asked, "How many are in the assembly?" The old man said, "The former three-three and the latter three-three." When evening came, he called the boy to lead Wuzhe out. Wuzhe asked the boy, "What monastery is this?" He replied, "It is the Prajñā Monastery." Wuzhe sorrowfully realized that this old man was indeed Mañjuśrī. He immediately bowed down at the boy's feet and asked for a word. The boy concealed his body and sang: / "When the face has no anger, it is a true offering; / When the mouth has no anger, it exhales wondrous fragrance; / When the mind has no anger, it is a precious jewel; / Freedom from defilement and stain is the truly eternal." / Wuzhe thereupon stayed at Mount Wutai, and later had frequent meetings with Mañjuśrī. (Another text records the old man preaching a gāthā: / "A single thought of pure mind is bodhi, / Surpassing the building of seven-jeweled stūpas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges; / The jeweled stūpas ultimately turn to dust, / But a single thought of pure mind attains sambodhi.")