佛祖統紀 45.34

45.34

In the fifth year, the śramaṇa Zhi Jixiang and others from Western India arrived at court to present Sanskrit scriptures. They were granted purple robes. ○ An imperial edict directed Ouyang Xiu, Song Qi, and Fan Zhen to compile the *History of the Tang*. Biographies such as those of the eminent monks Xuanzang and Shenxiu, the biographies of occult arts, and even texts concerning the Zhenguan era's construction of monasteries to pray for the blessing of fallen soldiers were all deleted. There was Chan Master Zijue of Jingyin, who had initially studied under Sima Guang and once heard him say: "Yongshu disliked Buddhism. Whatever in the old Tang history pertained to its matters he invariably excised." He had once taken both versions and collated them, finding over a thousand deleted passages. He thereupon said: "Those that ride on empty talk of nature, destiny, and morality are the writings of Han Yu; those that obliterate the real effects of order, chaos, success, and failure are the *New Book [of Tang]*." Fan Zuyu, hearing Guang's words, subsequently wrote the *Tang Mirror*, secretly making up for the deficiencies of the *New Book* (*Ouyang waizhuan*). ○ Sima Guang once read the *Wenzhongzi*, which called the Buddha a sage. He then said: "If it is truly like this, then the Buddha's mind can be seen!" He thereupon composed six Chan verses. The final stanza said: / "His words serve as teacher for a hundred generations, / His actions serve as law for the entire world. / Being a worthy and being a great sage: / This is what is named Buddha and Bodhisattva." / On a day of leisure, he toured various monasteries in Luoyang. The corridors were silent. Suddenly, bells and drums sounded, leading him to the dining hall, where he saw the śramaṇas sitting upright in complete silence, just taking up their spoons and chopsticks. Guang rejoiced and said to his attendants: "I never thought that the rites and music of the Three Dynasties would be preserved among the dark-robed [monks]!" In the first year of Zhihe, an imperial decree stated that Tripiṭaka Master Dharmarakṣa's moral discipline and virtue were eminent and supreme, and that he should be specially granted a six-character master title: Great Master Puming Cijue Chuanfan (Universally Bright, Compassionate and Awakened Transmitter of Sanskrit). ○ The Emperor dreamt of going to the gate of Jingde Monastery and seeing a dragon coiled on the ground. Waking in astonishment, he sent an envoy to inspect it; he saw a monk lying outside the gate, whose name was Daolong. The next day he summoned him to an audience. His responses were detailed and sharp. He was granted the title Chan Master Mingwu (Luminous Awakening), and an edict ordered the Huayan Cloister to be built outside the Cao Gate for him to reside in. In the second year, Chan Master Dajue Huailian of Jingyin submitted a memorial requesting permission to retire to the mountains in old age. The Emperor said: "The mountains are none other than the substance of suchness. Where would you return?" The Master then presented a eulogy: / "A thousand clustered cloudy mountains, ten thousand ravine streams; / My idle body retires in old age atop this peak. / With devoted care, I pray for [imperial] longevity like the heavens; / A single stick of pure incense fills the stone chamber." / The Emperor once bestowed a borneol-camphor bowl upon him. Facing the envoy, the Master burned it, saying: "According to our Dharma, we wear robes of decayed color and eat from clay and iron; this bowl is not according to the Dharma." When the envoy returned to report, the Emperor praised and sighed in admiration all the more.