佛祖統紀 8.13

8.13

The Tenth Patriarch, the Venerable Xingdao Daosui, was of unknown origin. During the Dali era of the Tang (under Daizong), he came to rely on Jingxi at Folong. He thoroughly penetrated the obscure and profound without impediment. Jingxi commended him, saying: 'My son, you will indeed be able to continue and revive my Way!' He then bestowed upon him the Supplementary Practices of Calming and Contemplation. The Master expounded it for the assembly, elucidating the profound meaning, and none of the listeners failed to comprehend and awaken. His fellow disciple Yuanhao respected and submitted to the Master immensely upon meeting him. In the twenty-first year of the Zhenyuan era, Saichō of Japan came from afar to seek the Dharma. He listened to the lectures and received instruction day and night without rest, copying the treatises and commentaries of the entire lineage to return home with them. When he was about to depart, he went to the prefectural office and informed the prefect, asking for a statement as evidence. The prefect Lu Chun commended his sincerity and thereupon endorsed it, writing: 'Ācārya Saichō, though from a foreign land, is truly of the same source in nature. With a bright and penetrating disposition, he is revered by both monastics and laity. Having observed the glory of our superior state, he furthermore received the teachings from renowned worthies. Dharma Master Sui unites the myriad dharmas in the one mind and understands diverse paths through the three contemplations; and Saichō personally received the secrets, not stopping at mere traps and snares. Yet fearing that scholars in other lands might not believe and accept his words, how could I not grant the seal of confirmation he requested?' Once Saichō sailed back eastward, he designated a mountain as Tiantai and founded a monastery named Dengyō. The breeze of transformation spread widely, and his students multiplied daily; thus they came to revere Master Sui from afar as their founding patriarch. The transmission of the teachings in Japan truly began with this (Chao Shuozhi, in composing the stele inscription for Mingzhi, wrote: 'Jingxi transmitted to Xingman, and Man transmitted to Guangxiu.' According to the Da Song sengshizhuan, Dharma Master Sui transmitted to Guangxiu, and Xiu transmitted to Wuwai. Now, following the Song biography, taking Master Sui as succeeding Jingxi is correct. Since Chao personally saw Mingzhi, it is unknown how this divergent account arose at that time).