釋鑑稽古略續集 1.202

1.202

梅屋禪師　諱念常。世居華亭。黃姓。母楊氏禱觀音大士夢龐眉老僧託宿而娠。生時神光照室異香襲人。出家平江圓明院。博究群書參晦機熙公。有省禮五臺。歷燕京帝師尊寵。預金書藏經之列。迺集佛祖通載二十二卷。備歷代法門事蹟。住持祥符僧中斑馬。

Chan Master Meiwu: His taboo name was Nianchang. His family had resided for generations in Huating, and his secular surname was Huang. His mother, Lady Yang, prayed to the Great Being Avalokiteśvara, and dreamt of an old monk with thick eyebrows asking for lodging, whereupon she became pregnant. At his birth, a divine light illuminated the room and an extraordinary fragrance filled the air. He left home at the Yuanming Cloister in Pingjiang. He thoroughly studied diverse books and called upon Reverend Xi of Huiji, experiencing an awakening; he paid homage at Mount Wutai. Traversing to Yanjing, he was venerated and favored by the Imperial Preceptor, and was included in the ranks of those writing the canon in gold. Thereupon he compiled the Fozu tongzai in twenty-two fascicles, fully detailing the deeds and events of the Dharma gate across the successive dynasties. He served as abbot of Xiangfu, being like a Ban Gu or Sima Qian among monks.