釋鑑稽古略續集 2.37

2.37

Chan Master Jueyuan: Taboo name Huitan, courtesy name Jueyuan. A man of Tiantai, of the Yang clan. His mother, Lady Jia, gave birth to him after dreaming that she swallowed a bright pearl of the moon. He left home under Dajun at Faguozhi Monastery. At sixteen he received the full precepts. He studied the Vinaya under Master Guo of Zhaoging, trained in the Vinaya under Master Jiao of Goryeo, and listened to Śamatha and Vipaśyanā under Master Cheng of Upper Zhuzhu. At that time, Master Xiaoyin Su was propagating the Chan lineage at Middle Tianzhu; the Master went there and laid bare the earnestness of his search for the Way. Master [Su] said: "Whatever enters from outside is not the family treasure. The Way lies in oneself; why seek it from others?" The Master withdrew, gathered his spirit, and sat alone for a long time. One day, Master [Su] brought up Baizhang's wild fox case. The Master attained great awakening and said: "The Buddhadharma has fallen into my hands! Only because it was so utterly clear did it conversely delay my attaining it." Master [Su] said: "What principle have you seen that you dare make such boastful words?" The Master spread his two hands and said: "It is not worth half a cash." Master [Su] nodded in approval. He followed Master Su at Longxiang Monastery and accompanied him to an audience with Emperor Wenzong of the Yuan at Kuizhang. The Master remained composed and serene in spirit; Master Su said: "He is truly a lion's cub of our house." Later he began his public career at Zushan Hall on Mount Niutou, where the halls and pavilions were completely renovated. He was transferred to Qingliang Guanghui Chan Monastery, reviving it from neglect just as he had done at Niushou. The Imperial Preceptor commended him and bestowed on him the title "Pure Awakening and Wondrous Discernment." When Taizu pacified Jianye, the Master went to see him at the camp gate. At first sight Taizu sighed and said: "This is a monk of blessing and virtue!" He ordered him to take charge of Taiping Xingguo Monastery on Mount Jiang. The following year an imperial decree ordered him to take charge of Great Tianjie Monastery. Whenever an assembly for the Dharma was convened, the Master would expound and propagate it. The imperial carriage visited several times, and imperial gifts were bountiful. The Emperor wrote "Foremost Chan Forest under Heaven" to be hung above the triple gate. In the first year of Hongwu, the Court of the Exalter of the World was inaugurated, ranked at the lower second rank; the Master was appointed Great Chan Master of Propagating Sanskrit, Exalting the World, Benefiting the State, and Submitting to the Teaching, acting as abbot of Tianjie and superintending Buddhist affairs throughout the various mountains. An imperial patent was issued, granting him the purple robe. When some monks committed unlawful acts, someone said they should be severely punished. The Master said: "There is a proverb: 'In a great forest there is useless timber; can it all be cleared away?' It would only increase the disgrace of the Buddhist gate. It is enough not to pardon matters once they are exposed." In the third year of Hongwu, he was dispatched as an envoy to the Western Regions. In the ninth month of the fourth year, falling ill, he summoned his attendants and said: "I cannot report back on my mission." Thereupon he passed away at the age of sixty-eight, with fifty-three years in the monastic order. The king of the foreign land cremated him with a fragrant coffin and fragrant firewood, and interred his spiritual relics beside a pratyekabuddha stūpa in that realm. His Dharma brother Zongle carried back his legacy robes and enshrined them between Mount Jubao and Yuhuatai in Nanjing.