佛祖統紀 42.6

42.6

In the fourth year, the Śramaṇa Huijiao carved the Lotus Sūtra on the stone cliff of Gushan at the West Lake in Hangzhou. The Prefect Bai Juyi and nine others aided his endeavor. The Grand Councilor Yuan Zhen composed a record for it, which stated: "The profound marvels of the Buddha's Dharma are for monks to explain to me; it is not for me to explain to monks." ○ Bai Juyi arrived at Mount Lu and visited Chan Master Chang of Guizong, happening upon the Master plastering a wall. [The Master] asked: "Are you a Confucian gentleman or a petty Confucian?" Juyi said: "A Confucian gentleman." The Master struck with his plaster trowel once; Juyi then passed over some plaster. The Master took it and used it immediately. After a long pause, he said: "Could you be that quick and clever Vice Minister Bai?" Juyi said: "I dare not claim to be." The Master said: "You only have the ability to pass plaster." ○ Secretariat Director Wang Zhixing requested to erect a universal ordination platform in Sizhou, asking that ordinations of monks be permitted on the imperial birthday. An imperial rescript granted approval. Li Deyu, Surveillance Commissioner of Western Zhe, submitted a memorial arguing that those ordained were beyond count, causing the Jiang-Huai region to lose hundreds of thousands of able-bodied men. The Emperor did not accept [his remonstrance].