佛祖歷代通載 11.29

11.29

（十六　己亥）　十三年。方士秦世英譖法師惠琳著論訕毀皇宗。有旨捕琳。琳知之變服自繫詣闕請譴。制旨曰。據爾論。有念觀世音者臨刑不傷。今詳罪犯當坐大辟。賜假七日。爾可勤念之。貴臨刑自免。琳奉制一無所念。至期詔問所念觀音感應如何對曰。隋季失德四海沸騰。陛下廓清寰宇道洽生靈。琳自七日已來。不念觀音唯念陛下。帝訝其言。遣御史韋琮問琳所以念朕之狀。對曰。觀音至聖垂形六道。上天下地皆為師救。陛下御臨宸極萬國歡心。文治至平靈鑒無外。聖與觀音齊等。所以唯念陛下。且琳挺志蓋弘宣釋氏之法以助皇化。冀民懼報應。畏刑罰而遠惡也。琳何求而敢訕謗哉。陛下察琳忠於所事。則所謂臨刑自免若唯讒是信。則琳伏尸無地。琮奏其語。有旨免刑流于益州（法師著辨正論八卷。為諸死于蜀百牢關。未幾秦世英被誅矣）。

([Year] 16, jihai [639 CE]) In the thirteenth year, the occult practitioner Qin Shiying slandered Dharma Master Huilin, claiming that he had written treatises defaming the imperial clan. An imperial order was issued to arrest Lin. When Lin learned of it, he changed his clothes, bound himself, and went to the palace gates to submit to punishment. The imperial decree stated: "According to your treatise, if one is mindful of Avalokiteśvara, when facing execution one will not be harmed. Now, examining your offense, you deserve the death penalty. I grant you seven days of leave; you may diligently be mindful of him, so that facing execution you may save yourself." Lin received the order and was not mindful of anything. When the time arrived, the Emperor asked via edict how the efficacy of his mindfulness of Avalokiteśvara had been. Lin replied: "At the close of the Sui, virtue was lost and the four seas were in turmoil. Your Majesty swept clean the realm, and the Dao enriched all living beings. For the past seven days, Lin has not been mindful of Avalokiteśvara; I have only been mindful of Your Majesty." The Emperor was astonished at his words and dispatched Censor Wei Cong to question Lin regarding the circumstances of his mindfulness of "Our person." Lin replied: "Avalokiteśvara is a supreme sage who manifests forms across the six destinies, acting as a teacher and savior throughout heaven above and earth below. Your Majesty oversees the imperial throne, bringing joy to the myriad states; your civil rule is exceedingly peaceful, and your spiritual discernment leaves nothing outside. Your sagacity is equal to Avalokiteśvara; therefore I was only mindful of Your Majesty. Furthermore, Lin exerted his will merely to propagate the law of the Śākyan clan to assist the imperial transformation, hoping the people would fear karmic retribution, dread punishments, and keep away from evil. What would Lin seek that he should dare slander? If Your Majesty scrutinizes Lin's loyalty to what he serves, then this is what is called 'facing execution and saving oneself'; if you only believe slander, then Lin's corpse will find no resting place." Cong reported his words, and an edict remitted the capital punishment, exiling him to Yizhou. (The Dharma Master wrote the Bianzheng lun in eight fascicles. He died at Bailao Pass in Shu. Shortly thereafter, Qin Shiying was executed).