佛祖統紀 9.23

9.23

Chan Master Faxi studied vigorously without weariness. He visited seventeen good friends and attained great awakening. When he reached the age of sixty, he first met Zhiyi at Mount Dasu. Hearing the sound of the Dharma once, he immediately obtained deep realization. Thereupon he gave up all his former disciples and dedicated himself solely to meditation and wisdom. In the first year of the Guangda era of the Chen dynasty, he followed Zhiyi with twenty-seven fellow students to Jinling to carry out teaching tours. The Minister Mao Xi teased him, saying, 'The revered master is still young, so why is the disciple so old?' (At the time, Zhiyi was thirty years old.) The Master replied, 'What I serve is virtue; how could one speak of his years?' He asked again, 'In what does his virtue consist?' He answered, 'His skillful preaching of the Dharma makes him a Pūrṇa of later generations; his subduing of Māra and attainment of the Way makes him an Upagupta of today.' Mao Xi was pleased with his response and frequently praised him in the court ranks. While the Master was practicing the Vaipulya Samādhi, a pheasant came to demand his life. A spirit king rebuked it, saying, 'The Chan master is destined for the Pure Land and will attain the Way in this very life. How could he repay your life?' Later, at Waguan Monastery, he sat cross-legged and entered absorption, passing away without rising from his seat.