隋天台智者大師別傳 1.4

1.4

（其二）朱方天香寺沙門慧延。彼土名達昔游光宅。早沾法潤忽聞遷化。感咽彌辰奉慕尊靈為生。何處因寫法華經以期。冥示潛思累旬夢見觀音。高七層塔光焰赫奕過經所稱。智者身從觀音從西來至。延夢裏作禮。乃謂延曰。疑心遣否。延密懷此相口未曾言。後見灌頂始知臨終觀音引導。事驗懸契欣嗟無已。

(2) The monk Huiyan of Tianxiang Temple in Zhufang was well known in that region. He had visited Guangzhai in the past and had early on received the moisture of the Dharma. When he suddenly heard of the Master's passing, he choked with emotion for several days. Venerating and longing for the revered spirit, he wondered where he had been reborn. Thereupon he copied the *Lotus Sūtra* in hopes of receiving an unseen sign. After meditating secretly for several weeks, he dreamed of Avalokiteśvara, towering like a seven-storied pagoda, radiant and blazing far beyond what the sūtras describe. Zhizhe's body, following Avalokiteśvara, came from the west. In the dream, Huiyan prostrated himself, and [Zhizhe] said to him: “Has your doubt been dispelled?” Huiyan kept this vision secret in his heart and never spoke of it. Only later, when he met Guanding, did he learn that at his deathbed Avalokiteśvara had led the way. The verification matched so perfectly that he rejoiced and marveled endlessly.