佛祖歷代通載 9.5

9.5

(3. Guiwei) Emperor Wu issued an edict stating: "The Great Being Baozhi keeps his traces confined to dust and defilement, while his spirit roams in profound quietude. Water and fire cannot burn or wet him; snakes and tigers cannot attack or terrify him. If one speaks of his Buddhist principles, they are above the Śrāvaka; if one discusses his reclusion, he is exalted among hidden immortals. How could common ways and ordinary sentiments fruitlessly doubt and suspect him? From now on, let him freely proclaim and convert throughout the court and country." One day the Emperor asked Zhi, "Your disciple's afflictions and confusions have not yet been eliminated. How should they be remedied?" Zhi replied, "Twelve." The Emperor asked, "What does that mean?" Zhi replied, "In the writing of characters and the water clock of the hours and seasons." The Emperor understood even less. On another day, when the Emperor further asked whether there would be difficulties for the state's fortunes, Zhi pointed to his own neck to show him. The Emperor said, "How long shall I enjoy the realm?" Zhi replied, "Yuanjia, Yuanjia." The Emperor rejoiced, thinking it meant twice the years of Emperor Wen of Song. At that time, at the beginning of the dynastic change, the Emperor was harsh and severe in his administration. Zhi, using the Emperor's spiritual power, caused him to see his deceased father suffering extreme torment in the underworld. From then on, the Emperor showed leniency in punishments. He once commanded the painter Zhang Sengyou to paint Zhi's portrait. Whenever Sengyou set his brush to work, he could not fix it. Then Zhi drew his finger across his face, parting it, and revealed the Eleven-faced Avalokiteśvara, wondrously formed and extraordinarily splendid, at times compassionate, at times awe-inspiring. In the end, Sengyou was unable to paint it. On another day, while standing by the river with the Emperor gazing into the distance, there was an object floating upstream against the current. Zhi drew it in with his staff, and it followed the staff to shore; it was purple sandalwood. It was immediately given to the court artist Yu Shao to carve a statue of Zhi. It was finished in an instant, its spirit and appearance as though alive. The Emperor was pleased and installed it in the inner palace. At that time, both Master Fayun and Master Yunguāng had great renown; whenever they expounded the Dharma, flowers would rain down from heaven. The Emperor suspected they had attained sagehood. At night in an informal hall, he burned a memorial inviting the three Great Beings—Zhi, Guang, and Yun—to a vegetarian feast. The next day, Zhi arrived alone, while Guang and Yun were both completely unaware of it. Because of this, the Emperor treated him with even more exceptional reverence. Zhi also once climbed to Dinglin Temple on Mount Zhong with the Emperor, pointed to the knoll of Dulong Ridge in front, and said, "If this is made a tomb, your descendants will endure forever." The Emperor asked, "Who shall have it?" Zhi said, "The first to go shall have it." In the thirteenth year, the Great Being manifested his passing. The Emperor recalled his words, purchased the land for two hundred thousand pieces of gold, erected a five-tiered stūpa upon it, and secured it with a priceless jewel. He ordered Wang Yun to engrave a stele. On the day of the burial, the imperial carriage personally attended to offer libations; suddenly the Great Being appeared amidst the clouds, and the shouts of joy from the ten-thousand-strong crowd shook the mountains and valleys. From then on, monastics and laypeople made offerings to him; his miraculous signs and manifest responses were one in ten thousand under heaven. All the cryptic prophetic verses composed by the Great Being are largely recorded in the History of the Southern Dynasties. For students he composed the 'Ten Hymns on the Mahāyāna', 'Fourteen Sections of Chanted Verses', and the 'Song of the Twelve Hours'. All of them elucidate the profound principles of the Way, and their purport secretly accords with the Chan school. They are widely circulated in the world today.