釋鑑稽古略續集 2.10

2.10

Chan Master Huitang: taboo name Ziyuan, style name Huitang, was a native of Linhai whose family name was Chen. His mother gave birth to him after being moved by a wondrous dream. He became a disciple under Master Guan of Baixue Monastery, shaved his hair, and received the full precepts. He visited Master Rixi Yong of Tianning to inquire into and resolve the essential of the mind. Later, because the roads were arduous and perilous when visiting his parents, he resolved to build a resting place for traveling wayfarers. First he restored Miaoguo Monastery; next he founded the Yuantong Pavilion and the Huayan Precious Pavilion; and he further constructed the Amitābha Pavilion, fashioning the images of the sixteen contemplations to inspire in people the correct cause for the Pure Land. When the matter came to the hearing of the imperial court, the master was conferred a golden brocade Dharma robe and granted the title "Universal Salvation of the Buddha Mind" (Foxin Puji). He further built the Bao'en Chan Cloister, leading the assembly in cultivation, exhorting them that seeing one's nature is of paramount urgency. In the third month of this year, he passed away. His worldly age was fifty-nine, and his monastic age was forty-three. A stupa was built to the northwest of the monastery (inscribed by Zhu).