釋鑑稽古略續集 3.93

3.93

虛白禪師　諱慧旵。字虛白。湖廣族。家於丹陽。姓王。母黃氏。方娠之夕。夢僧頂包入門。及產多異。警悟不凡。寓目成誦。七歲夢坐稠人中。揮麈玄論。醒以告母。母曰。此高僧說法相也。十四出家。謁湛然松隱果林諸公。於寶藏持公處省徹。偈曰。一拳打破太虛空。百億須彌不露踪。借問個中誰是主。扶桑湧出一輪紅。住安溪東明二十餘祀。晝夜無睡。坐若鐵幢。稱旵鐵脊。卒年七十。塔於山之東塢。

Chan Master Xubai, whose taboo name was Huichan and courtesy name was Xubai, belonged to a clan from Huguang and had his household in Danyang; his secular surname was Wang. His mother, née Huang, on the night she conceived, dreamed of a monk carrying a bundle on his head entering the gate. When he was born, many unusual signs occurred. He was exceptionally alert and perceptive, memorizing whatever met his eyes. At the age of seven, he dreamed of sitting amidst a crowd of people, waving a fly-whisk and holding profound discussions. Upon waking, he told his mother, who said, "This is the appearance of an eminent monk expounding the Dharma." At fourteen he left home. He visited Master Zhanran, Songyin, Guolin, and other masters, and attained thorough realization under Master Chi of Baozang. His verse said:
"With a single punch, empty space is shattered;
Ten billion Sumerus leave no trace.
May I ask who is the master within this?
From Fusang, a crimson wheel surges forth."
He resided at Dongming in Anxi for more than twenty years, sleeping neither day nor night, sitting erect like an iron pillar; he was called "Chan of the Iron Spine." He died at the age of seventy, and a stūpa was erected for him in the eastern cove of the mountain.