釋氏稽古略 4.120

4.120

詔天下立放生池。明州大法師知禮。自丙辰春偕十僧。誓修法華三昧。三年滿。如藥王故事燒身供養妙法蓮華經以生淨土。翰林學士楊億聞知。郵置長書堅請住世。仍委郡守李夷庚保護。天禧四年宰相𡨥。準翰林楊億以知禮行業及遺身事奏聞。帝曰。但傳朕意請留住世。特賜師號法智大師（教行錄）。

An edict ordered the realm to establish ponds for releasing life. Great Dharma Master Zhili of Mingzhou, together with ten monks from the spring of the bingchen year, vowed to cultivate the Lotus Samādhi; upon completing three years, following the precedent of Bhaiṣajyarāja, he intended to burn his body as an offering to the Lotus Sūtra of the Wondrous Dharma in order to be born in the Pure Land. When Hanlin Academician Yang Yi learned of this, he dispatched a long letter earnestly pleading with him to remain in the world, and further entrusted Prefect Li Yigeng to protect him. In the fourth year of Tianxi, Grand Councilor Kou Zhun and Hanlin Academician Yang Yi reported Zhili's conduct and vow to abandon his body to the Emperor. The Emperor said, "Simply convey our intention requesting him to remain in the world," and specially bestowed upon the master the title Great Master Fazhi (Record of Teaching and Practice).