釋鑑稽古略續集 2.17

2.17

Chan Master Xutang: taboo name Yongning, style name Yiyuan, was a native of Tongzhou surnamed Zhu. His mother was Lady Li. He cast himself into Guanghui Monastery; an omen showed that he was the rebirth of Chan Master Huaihai of the Song. The Central Buddhist Registry issued his certificate and ordained him. He went to call upon Wuyong of Mount Taihu, who tempered and refined him in diverse ways, turning the master into a fine vessel; he served him as attendant for three years, and Wuyong gave him the instruction: "When you meet a dragon, stop; when you meet a pool, abide." At first, he stayed at Shixiang Monastery in Dadong, Guangde, facing Master Shixi Wuyi Quan from afar; people called them the "Two Gates of Sweet Dew." Later, he moved to Longchi (Dragon Pool) in Yixing, matching the prophetic foretelling. Delighted and fully content, he built several dozen bays of rooms and named it the Yumen Xinghua Hermitage. He administered the Three Refuges and precepts to the dragon deity. The Imperial Preceptor conferred upon him the title "Spreader of the Teaching and Universal Benefactor" (Hongjiao Puji). Later, at Lishan Chan Monastery, an edict gathered one thousand seven hundred śramaṇas to inspect the Great Canon for seven days; the master ascended the seat to expound the teaching, and the auspicious omen of sweet dew descended from heaven. He presided over Tianning Wanshou in Changzhou, renovating it magnificently. Emperor Shun of the Yuan bestowed the title "Chan Monastery of Original Awakening, Wondrous Brightness, and True Purity" (Benjue Miaoming Zhenjing Chan Si). He was ordered to fill vacancies at Jingde Chan Monastery on Mount Tiantong and at Da Huayan Monastery, but he declined all of them due to illness. An imperial decree ordered him to enter for an audience to preach the Dharma in the Longguang Hall; the Emperor was pleased and bestowed a golden brocade Dharma robe along with a jade ring, adding the title "Enlightened to the Buddha Mind" (Foxin Liaowu). The Imperial Preceptor also bestowed a crimson robe and felt hat. Receiving an imperial order to bear incense to Mount Wutai, the Great Being manifested five paths of auspicious light for him. The Prince of Zhennan invited the master into his palace to receive the great precepts, bestowed a silver bowl upon him, and sent guards to escort him back to Longchi. He solicited ten thousand faithful patrons to hold an Assembly of Ten Thousand Virtues Converging in Common, burying countless withered bones left behind by war. At that time, there was a great drought; yielding to the entreaties of the villagers, he erected an altar and chanted verses, whereupon torrential rain poured down, bringing an abundant harvest for the year. In the sixth month of this year, he manifested slight illness, ordered mourning cords and hempen garments to be made, and said: "I am about to pass away." On the seventeenth day, he wrote a gāthā: / "For seventy-eight years I have guarded my simplicity; / Clearly it has been a total collapse. / The mud ox turns over at the bottom of the ocean; / In the blazing heat of the sixth month, snow flies." / Lying on his side, he passed away. When cremated, five colors appeared; his teeth, tongue, and prayer beads were not destroyed, and wherever the smoke reached, śarīras formed. A stupa was built at Ziyun to enshrine them.