釋氏稽古略 3.97

3.97

In the bingshen year, the first year of the Wansui Tongtian reign era, in the twelfth month, on the jiashen day, the reign era was changed to Wansui Dengfeng. The Xianshou Teaching: Śramaṇa Fazang was styled Xianshou. His surname was Kang, and he was a person of the Kangju kingdom. His demeanor was extraordinary and upright, and his keen wisdom was matchless. Coming to Chang'an, he soon answered the selection of celebrated monks versed in doctrinal studies. It happened that Dharma Master Xuanzang was translating scriptures, and Fazang first took part therein. Later, because his insights differed in terms of recording by brush, verifying meaning, and polishing the text, he left the translation bureau. Formerly, Dharma Master Dushun of Dunhuang was treated with deep reverence by Emperor Wen of the Sui. He transmitted the Contemplation of the Avataṃsaka Dharmadhātu to his disciple Zhiyan; this was based on the Jin translation of the Avataṃsaka. Fazang attended upon Zhiyan and fully mastered his teachings. When it came to this transmission and translation, Fazang was foremost among the participants. When Śikṣānanda translated the Sanskrit manuscripts of the Avataṃsaka from Khotan, Fazang, together with Dharma Master Yijing and Dharma Master Fuli, all took part. In the first year of the Wansui Tongtian reign era, an imperial decree ordered Śrāmaṇera Fazang to expound the essential tenets of the newly translated Avataṃsaka at Taiyuan Monastery. A white light issued from his mouth. There was an imperial order commanding the ten bhadantas of the capital district to confer upon Fazang the full ordination precepts. He was bestowed the title 'Xianshou' and summoned by decree to enter Dabiankong Monastery to participate in the translation. In the first year of the Chang'an reign era, an imperial decree ordered Xianshou to lecture on the new Avataṃsaka Sūtra at Foshouji Monastery in the Eastern Capital. When he reached the 'Lotus Store World' chapter, the great earth shook. On the same day, he was summoned for an audience in the Changsheng Hall to be questioned on the meaning of the tenfold Indra's net and the six aspects. Fazang set forth and proclaimed them methodically: 'Now, the meaning of Indra's net, the tenfold profound portals, the portal of the ocean-seal samādhi, the portal of the harmonious meaning of the six aspects, and the portal of the realm of the universal eye—all these doctrinal sections form the net of general and specific meanings of the Avataṃsaka.' The Empress Dowager was at this point vague and undecided. Fazang then pointed to the golden lion guarding the hall as an analogy, whereupon he composed a direct and easily understood doctrinal exposition entitled 'Treatise on the Golden Lion', setting forth the general and specific characteristics of the ten portals. The Empress Dowager thereupon was enlightened to its meaning. Fazang also set up a skillful expedient for students who had not comprehended: he took ten mirrors and arranged them in the eight directions, with one above and one below, spaced over ten feet apart, facing one another. In the center he placed a Buddha image and lit a torch to illuminate it. The reflections and beams of light interpenetrated one another. The students thereby understood the meaning of the inexhaustible interpenetration of the sea of lands. Fazang once composed a commentary on the Heart of Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra, which was highly prized at the time and circulated throughout the realm. He was also titled National Preceptor Kangzang. Grand Controller National Preceptor Chengguan of Qingliang, with the talent of an epoch-making second-to-the-sage, traced the lineage back to Xianshou and composed commentaries and treatises on the Avataṃsaka amounting to several million words. Guifeng Zongmi succeeded him. These are the five patriarchs of the Huayan. The deep source of the Great Dharma flowed copiously and nourished the entire realm. It was designated the School of the Perfect Fusion and Complete Virtue of a Single Thought, the Xianshou Teaching (Gaoseng zhuan).