釋鑑稽古略續集 2.49

2.49

大千禪師　諱慧照。字大千。永嘉麻氏子。母黃氏。父母保惜如珠。十五依良公剃落具戒。謁晦機熙公東嶼海公石林鞏公。究明人事兼精教乘。見無言宣公於杭之淨慈。後出世於明慶。誨眾曰。佛法欲得現前莫存知解。一物不立而起居自在。聞者悅懌。遷四明之寶陀。一以厚德載物眾服其化。甞垂三關語以驗學者。後築室曰夢菴。自號夢世叟。掩關獨處凝塵滿席不顧也。是年十月朔。召弟子曰。吾將西歸。恬然而寂。壽八十五。臘七十。闍維牙齒眼精數珠不燬。舍利五色。瘞於夢菴之後。有語錄行世。

Chan Master Daqian: his taboo name was Huizhao, his courtesy name was Daqian, and he was a son of the Ma clan of Yongjia. His mother was of the Huang clan. His parents cherished and protected him like a pearl. At fifteen, he relied upon Master Liang to shave his head and receive the complete precepts. He visited Master Huiji Xi, Master Dongyu Hai, and Master Shilin Gong, thoroughly clarifying human affairs while also being proficient in the doctrinal teachings. He saw Master Wuyan Xuan at Jingci in Hangzhou. Later he came forth into the world at Mingqing. He instructed the assembly, saying, 'If you wish the Buddha-Dharma to become manifest, do not harbor conceptual understanding. When not a single thing is established, all daily activities are at ease.' Those who heard were filled with joy. He moved to Baotuo in Siming, where solely by his abundant virtue he bore all things, and the assembly submitted to his transformation. He once offered three-barrier statements to test learners. Later he built a dwelling called Meng'an (Dream Hut), calling himself the Old Man of the Dream World. He closed the door to dwell alone, paying no heed even when accumulated dust filled his mat. On the first day of the tenth month of that year, he summoned his disciples, saying, 'I am about to return to the west,' and passed away peacefully. He lived to eighty-five, with seventy monastic years. Upon cremation (jhāpitam), his teeth, eyeballs, and prayer beads were not consumed. There were five-colored relics, which were interred behind Meng'an. There are recorded sayings circulating in the world.