釋鑑稽古略續集 2.55

2.55

西白法師　諱力金。字西白。吳郡姚氏子。其母周氏夢一龐眉僧趨闈遂娠。臨育奇芬馥郁滿庭。其容方顙圓額白晢如工琢。見者歡愛。逮七歲頴悟異常。凡書一覽即能記憶。見佛像即拜。請於父母求出家。依道原衍師祝髮受具。研三觀十乘之旨。衍公主秀之德藏。師為綱維之職。謁徑山古鼎銘公。觸機有契。至正間出世蘇之瑞光寺。興復嘉興之天寧寺。帝師聞師之賢。授以圓通普濟之號。築孤雲菴以養母。倣陳睦州之意焉。洪武改元有旨。起師住持大天界寺。師至闕見上於外朝。慰勞優渥賜以御饌。時召入禁庭奏對稱旨。師於內外典籍淹貫。與縉紳談論霏霏如吐玉屑。故樂與游。四年春詔建廣薦法會。師總持其事。五年冬詔復建會。大駕臨幸。詔師闡揚第一義諦。公侯庶僚環聽悅服。是年十二月二十四日。示疾而化。

Dharma Master Xibai: Taboo name Lijin, courtesy name Xibai, a son of the Yao family of Wu Commandery. His mother, Lady Zhou, dreamed of a monk with bushy eyebrows walking into the inner chamber, and thereupon became pregnant. When he was about to be born, an extraordinary fragrance wafted and filled the courtyard. In appearance, he had a square forehead and a round crown, fair-skinned as if carved by a craftsman. All who saw him felt delight and affection. By the age of seven, he was unusually precocious. Whatever book he looked at, he could memorize it at a single glance. Seeing a buddha image, he would immediately prostrate himself. He asked his parents for permission to become a monk. Relying on Master Daoyuan Yan, he tonsured his hair and received the complete precepts. He studied the purport of the three contemplations and the ten vehicles. Master Yan served as the abbot of Decang in Xiuzhou, and the master took up the duties of supervisory rector. He called upon the Venerable Guding Ming of Mount Jing; when triggered by an encounter, he attained realization. During the Zhizheng era, he appeared in the world [as abbot] of Ruiguang Monastery in Suzhou, and restored Tianning Monastery in Jiaxing. The Imperial Preceptor heard of the master's virtue and bestowed upon him the title 'Yuantong Puji' (Perfect Penetration Universal Salvation). He built Guyun Hermitage to support his mother, following the sentiment of Chen Muzhou. When the Hongwu era began, an imperial decree was issued, summoning the master to serve as abbot of the Great Tianjie Monastery. The master arrived at the court and met the Emperor in the outer court. The Emperor consoled and rewarded him generously, granting imperial meals. He was repeatedly summoned into the inner palace, where his responses were thoroughly pleasing to the Emperor's intent. The master was profoundly versed in both internal and external texts. When conversing with scholar-officials, words cascaded like scattering jade dust; therefore, they delighted in associating with him. In the spring of the fourth year, an imperial decree ordered the establishment of the Great Commendation Dharma Assembly, and the master was put in overall charge of its affairs. In the winter of the fifth year, a decree ordered another assembly to be held. The imperial carriage graced the occasion, and the Emperor ordered the master to expound the ultimate truth. Princes, marquises, and all the officials listened in a circle, filled with delight and conviction. On the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth month of that year, he showed illness and passed away.