釋鑑稽古略續集 3.21

3.21

In the dinghai year, the fifth year of the Yongle reign (1407), among the sons of soldiers and civilians in Zhili and the prefectures of Zhejiang, one thousand eight hundred people shaved their heads to become monks and went to the capital to request ordination certificates. The Ministry of Rites reported this to the throne. In the second month, the Western monk Master Karma was ordered to establish a Dharma altar at Linggu Monastery to offer sacrifice for the deceased imperial father and imperial mother. The Master led the saṃgha of the realm in conducting the great retreat liturgy for universal salvation. For fourteen days, auspicious clouds, heavenly flowers, sweet rain, and sweet dew appeared, and relic-lights, green luan-birds, and white cranes gathered without cease day after day. One evening, the cypresses and junipers produced golden flowers throughout the capital. Golden Immortals and arhats manifested amidst the clouds, while white elephants and blue lions displayed wondrous adornments; heavenly lanterns guided the way, and banners and canopies circled around, even descending among them. Furthermore, Buddhist chanting and celestial music were heard descending from heaven. The court officials submitted memorials of congratulation, and Academicians such as Hu Guang presented songs and eulogies celebrating these auspicious responses to imperial filial piety. From then on, His Majesty applied his mind to Buddhist texts, composed Buddhist songs, and had them sung and danced in the palace. On the sixth day of the second month, at the early morning court at the Fengtian Gate, civil and military officials submitted a memorial and received approval, with the imperial rescript: "Let the Ministry of Rites be informed. Issue a new proclamation announcing that itinerant monks and Daoists who uphold vegetarianism and observe the precepts may erect altars and preach the Dharma wherever they wish. Anyone who obstructs them shall be banished beyond the passes to become commoners. Respect this." In the third month, the Western monk Master Karma was invested as the Tathāgata Great Treasure Dharma King, Great Good Independent Buddha of the Western Heavens, Who Is Endowed with the Ten Thousand Practices, Most Exalted in the Ten Directions, of Complete and Perfect Awakening, Wondrous Wisdom, Good and Universal Response, Protector of the State and Propagator of the Teaching; he was appointed to lead the Buddhist teaching throughout the realm. He was granted one hundred taels of gold, one thousand taels of silver, coloured silks, paper currency, a kasāyā woven with gold and pearls, gold and silver vessels, saddled horses, and an escort of honour equal to that of a commandery princess. His disciples, such as Boluo, were all invested as Grand National Preceptors and granted seals, patents, gold, silks, and other items, and they were banqueted in the Huagai Hall.