佛祖統紀 42.37

42.37

In the sixth year, an edict ordered the reconstruction of Donglin Monastery on Mount Lu, posthumously granting Dharma Master Yuan the title 'Bianjue.' When the monastery was destroyed during the Huichang era, two monks carried a statue of Mañjuśrī on their backs and hid it at the summit of Jinxiu Valley. By this time, the monastery had been restored, but they searched for it without success. The two monks suspected each other, thinking it had been concealed away. Suddenly they saw an auspicious sign of a circular halo surging forth in the sky. From then on, radiant signs were frequently seen at the Buddha's Hand Rock and Heavenly Pool on the mountain peak. It is said that Heavenly Pool is exceedingly lofty and steep, thirty li away from Donglin. At night, sacred lamps in the air were seen arriving from afar: at first a single torch was bright, and in a moment it grew to hundreds, thousands, and ten thousands of lamps; or the Great Being Mañjuśrī was seen amidst the clouds, appearing and disappearing without constancy. Those who bowed and prayed with utmost sincerity were certain to see the sacred appearance. The chief ministers said, 'If the ordination of monks is not rigorous, the rules of the precepts will fall into decay; if the building of monasteries is without limit, the waste of wealth will be excessive. We request that henceforth construction be permitted only at celebrated sites and famous mountains; in restoring former shrines and ordaining monks and nuns, let the vinaya masters of the respective prefectures carefully select those possessing the nature for the Way.' This was sanctioned by imperial decree.