佛祖歷代通載 18.89

18.89

(37) Chan Master Tianyi Yihuai: Born of the Chen family, he was a native of Yueqing in Wenzhou. For generations his family had engaged in fishing. His mother dreamed that a star fell by the steps of the house and light illumined the door; she subsequently became pregnant. When he was born, there were many wonders. As a child he sat at the stern of his father's boat; when fishing caught fish and gave them to Huai, Huai could not bear to string them up and secretly cast them into the river. His father angrily beat and scolded him, but he took it sweetly (without minding it. When grown, he traveled to the capital, and following Jingde Monastery, was ordained upon passing the scriptural examination). At that time there was someone called Yan Fahua ["Dharma Flower Yan"], an unfathomable man. Walking through the marketplace, he patted Huai on the back and said: "Go to Linji and Deshan!" At first he visited Chan Master Shan of Jinluan, but did not tally [with him]; later he visited Venerable Sheng of Yexian, but also did not tally. Traveling east to Cuifeng at Dongting, while Huai was managing the cooking, he went to fetch water from the stream himself; the carrying pole broke, and he awakened to the principle. Venerable Xian confirmed him, regarding him as remarkable. After taking leave, there was no news of him for a long time. A monk came from the Huai River region and said: "Huai has appeared in the world at Tiefo." Xian had him recite [Huai's] preaching words: "Like a wild goose crossing the vast sky, its shadow sinks in the cold water; the goose has no intent to leave a trace, and the water has no mind to retain the shadow." Xian praised him enthusiastically, considering him to be like himself. He first sent someone to console and encourage him, and only then did [Huai] dare to convey the courtesies of a disciple. The various quarters admired his refined discernment. From Tiefo to Tianyi, he moved his teaching seat five times, all to desolate places; wherever Huai arrived, storied pavilions would magically appear. In his later years, due to illness, he resided at Shanshan Hermitage in Chizhou. His disciple Zhicai, who resided at Fori in Hangzhou, came to welcome him home to attend to his medicines. When Cai went to Guxu and had not yet returned, Huai urged him to return; when [Cai] reached the gate, Huai had already bid farewell to the assembly. Cai asked: "The stupa prepared beforehand is completed; what is the ultimate matter?" Huai held up a firm fist to show him; then he lay down, pushed away the pillow, and transformed. His worldly age was seventy-two, with forty-six monastic summers. He was buried at Mount Fori. During the Chongning reign, an imperial decree posthumously bestowed the title Grand Master Zhenzong ["Reviver of the Ancestral Tradition"].