釋鑑稽古略續集 2.120

2.120

十一月十八日。本部官於太庖西欽奉聖旨。僧錄司左講經如玘病故。了恁禮部祭祀他欽此。祠部備祭。庫內支價。辦祭物件。完備祭祀　十一月二十一日。本部官於奉天門欽奉聖旨。左講經如玘今日下葬。恁禮部官便去。祭祀欽此。令禮部侍郎章祥致祭。仍御製祭文　御製祭如玘文。嗚呼業海茫茫濟彼岸者鮮矣。爾如玘駕般若舟。舉楞嚴棹建圓覺檣。假華嚴風揚大集帆。昨朝柁寬帆飽倏焉。彼岸噫果操舟之善耶。爾如玘冐風濤而有此耶。今業海爾濟舟楫猶存。孰備善爾舟傲風於業海。如斯濟岸就。不日乘爾某之舟。有此之濟。非獨如是。其拯溺者既多。朕觀營般若之舟。施普度之道。豈徒然哉。今也期當空相絕迹。去來所有庶饈。爾其享焉　附賡玘太璞韻。花逢夜雨曉看妍。實蕋凋時階不喧。試問老禪幽得處。謂言物外有青天。

On the eighteenth day of the eleventh month, officials of this Ministry [of Rites] reverently received an imperial edict west of the Grand Kitchen: “The Expositor of the Sūtras on the Left of the Central Buddhist Registry, Ruqi, has died of illness. Let your Ministry of Rites sacrifice to him. Respect this.” The Bureau of Sacrifices prepared the sacrifice, funds were disbursed from the treasury, the sacrificial articles were arranged, and the sacrifice was carried out. On the twenty-first day of the eleventh month, officials of this Ministry reverently received an imperial edict at the Fengtian Gate: “The Expositor of the Sūtras on the Left, Ruqi, is being interred today. Let the officials of your Ministry of Rites proceed at once to sacrifice to him. Respect this.” Vice Minister of Rites Zhang Xiang was ordered to offer the sacrifice, and an imperial funeral oration was personally composed. The Imperial Funeral Oration Sacrificing to Ruqi reads: “Alas! The sea of karma is vast and boundless; few are those who cross over to the other shore. You, Ruqi, steered the boat of prajñā, lifted the oars of the *Śūraṅgama*, raised the mast of the *Perfect Awakening*, availed yourself of the wind of the *Avataṃsaka*, and hoisted the sails of the *Mahāsaṃnipāta*. Yesterday morning, the rudder had room and the sails were full; suddenly you reached the other shore! Ah, was it truly skill in steering the boat? Or did you, Ruqi, braving the winds and waves, attain this? Now you have crossed the sea of karma, yet the boat and oars remain. Who will furnish and master your boat, braving the winds upon the sea of karma? Just as this crossing to the shore was accomplished, before long, boarding the boat of such a one as yourself, there will be such crossing over. Not only is it thus: those who have been rescued from drowning are already many. In My view, constructing the boat of prajñā and practicing the path of universal salvation—how could it be in vain? Now, facing the time when forms are empty and traces extinguished, of all the various delicacies offered here, may you partake of them!” Attached is [the Emperor's poem] matching the rhymes of Ruqi’s “Taipu”: “Flowers meet the night rain and in the morning look lovely; / When their real petals wither, the steps are serene. / Let me ask where the old Chan master finds his seclusion; / He says beyond worldly things there is an azure sky.”