佛祖歷代通載 19.4

19.4

(2. Xinhai) On the sixteenth day of the third month of this year, Chan Master Juenan of Yuantong passed away. His courtesy name was Zhongmin, and he came from the Jian family. He was a native of Zhongjiang in Zizhou. When young he was heroic and outstanding; upon glancing at poetry and canonical texts, he could recite them from memory. At the age of eleven, he relied on Yuanfang at Zhulin Temple in Shifang, Hanzhou. At seventeen, he was tested on the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka and received ordination. He received the full precepts under Vinaya Master Yingzhen. Because of his lecturing and learning, he was foremost in both regions of Sichuan, and many elders deferred to him. At that time, a Chan practitioner returned from the South, declaring that the Patriarchs' way was covering all under heaven: "Great Master Mazu was a native of Shifang, fulfilling Prajñātāra's prophecy. Eminent men of Sichuan known for the sutras and treatises—such as Master Liang—left their disciples and hid in the Western Mountains; such as Master Dexian—burned his commentaries and sub-commentaries, declaring that a drop of water cannot contend with the vast ocean." Juenan was downcast for a long while and said, "Do you know it?" The person said, "I cannot know it. If you wish to know it, why begrudge making the journey?" Juenan thereupon departed Sichuan. Later he traveled to Mount Lu and attained the Dharma from Chan Master Rong. Cheng Shimeng, Prefect of Nankang, invited him to reside at Guizong, and later he moved to Yuantong. Emperor Renzong heard of his fame, and in the early Huangyou reign-era [1049–1054], issued an edict summoning him to reside at Jingyin in the capital. Juenan cited eye trouble and could not comply with the edict. An edict ordered him to recommend someone to take his place, so he recommended the monk Huailian, saying, "His Chan learning is profound and subtle, and stands above mine." Thereupon Huailian answered the imperial summons and was brought in for an audience to be questioned on the general meaning of the Buddha-Dharma; it met with the Emperor's approval. Everyone under heaven regarded Juenan as worthy for knowing people. In his old age, he retired to dwell at the Baoji Cliff, and died without illness. His worldly age was sixty-two, and he had sat for forty-five summer retreats.