釋氏稽古略 2.12

2.12

The Twenty-Fifth Patriarch, the Venerable Bāśiasita: He was a native of the country of Kashmir. His family was of the brāhmaṇa caste; his father was Jixing ("Tranquil Conduct"), and his mother was Chang'anle ("Constant Ease and Joy"). At the age of crowning he left home under the Venerable Siṃha, received full ordination, and, having attained the Dharma, wished to go to southern India. When he first reached the country of Central India, its king, named Jiāsheng, welcomed him with courtesy. At that time, an extraordinary fragrance suddenly appeared in the king's palace. The Venerable One solemnly said, "My teacher has passed away." He then faced north and paid homage, and soon took leave of the king. The king said, "Venerable One, stay a little while and allow me to ask a question: in this park there is a spring so hot that one cannot touch it; I wish that you would determine the cause for me." The Patriarch said, "This is a hot spring; it is brought about by three conditions: the first is the karma of spirits, the second is the karma of ghosts, and the third is hot stone. As for hot stone, its color is like gold and its nature is constantly flaming; therefore the spring it issues is like boiling water. As for the karma of ghosts, it means that a ghost, having just left the place of punishment, wanders among men and, by the force of its remaining karma, boils this spring to repay its former debts. As for the karma of spirits, it means that a spirit did not keep to its proper way and falsely caused misfortune and good fortune to obtain sacrificial offerings; its evil karma having become fully laden, the punishments of the unseen realm put it to labor and also cause it to boil this spring to repay the illicit offerings." The king said, "May the Venerable One examine it among these three conditions: by which of these was this in fact brought about?" The Venerable One said, "This was brought about by the karma of a spirit." He then ordered incense to be burned overlooking the water and performed repentance for it. Shortly, a tall man appeared by the water, came forward, bowed to the Venerable One, and said, "Having a small amount of blessing, I was able to meet the Venerable One; I am now to be born among humans, so I have only come to bid farewell." Having spoken, he then disappeared. Seven days later, the water was indeed pure and cool like an ordinary spring. The Venerable One took leave of the king, and the king personally arrayed his imperial guards to escort him. When he reached southern India, its king, named Tiande ("Heavenly Virtue"), welcomed him with homage. The king had two sons: the first was named Desheng ("Virtue-Victor"), and the second was named Punyamitra. Later, Desheng succeeded to the throne; believing in and turning toward the non-Buddhists, he brought trouble upon the Patriarch. He hastily asked the Patriarch, "I have heard that the bhikṣu Siṃha did not escape execution; how could he transmit the Dharma?" The Patriarch said, "Before the trouble arose for my teacher, he conferred upon me the robe of trust and the Dharma verse to manifest the teacher's succession." The king said, "Where is that robe?" The Patriarch reached into his bag, produced the robe, and showed it to the king. The king ordered it to be burned, but the five colors shone brightly, and when the firewood was reduced to ashes, it remained as before. The king then paid respectful homage, saying, "A true heir of Siṃha!" The king's younger brother Punyamitra then sought to leave home; he attended upon the Patriarch for six years and received full ordination in the royal palace. At the time of the karmavācanā, the great earth shook. The Patriarch instructed him, saying, "I am already decrepit; how could I remain long? You must properly protect the treasury of the true Dharma eye and universally deliver all beings. Listen to my verse: 'The sage speaks of knowledge and views, / In confronting circumstances, none is not so. / Now I have awakened to the true nature: / There is neither way nor principle.'" Having heard the verse, Punyamitra addressed the Patriarch, saying, "Should the Dharma robe be handed down?" The Patriarch said, "This robe was borrowed as proof because of the trouble. There is no trouble for your person; why borrow the robe? When your transformation covers the ten directions, people will naturally believe and turn toward you." The Patriarch then manifested divine transformations, manifested the fire of samādhi, and burned his own body. On the level ground, the relics were about one foot high. King Desheng erected a stūpa and enshrined them. This was during the era of Emperor Ming of the Eastern Jin (Zhengzong ji).