唐護法沙門法琳別傳 3.13

3.13

勅遣劉德威等問法師曰。今赦期已滿當屆臨刑。比念觀音有何靈應。法師對曰。自隋季擾攘四海沸騰。疫毒流行干戈競起。興師相。伐各擅兵威。臣佞君荒不為政化。遏絕王路固執一隅。我皇興弔伐之心。統天立極。赦戮刑於都市。斯即觀音。拯橫死於帝庭寧殊勢至。論功比德。上聖道齊。琳於七日已來。唯念。

an imperial decree dispatched Liu Dewei and others to question the Dharma Master, saying: "The term of reprieve is now complete, and the time of execution has arrived. From reciting Guanyin recently, what spiritual response have you had?" The Dharma Master replied: "Since the end of the Sui dynasty fell into turmoil and the four seas boiled over, pestilence spread and arms were raised in rivalry. Armies were mobilized to attack one another, each wielding military might. Ministers were sycophantic, the ruler dissipated, failing to administer governance and transformation; the royal roads were blocked, and each clung stubbornly to his own corner. Our Emperor aroused a mind of condolence and chastisement, ruling heaven and establishing the supreme pole, pardoning executions in the capital markets—this, indeed, is Guanyin; delivering those from untimely death in the imperial court—how is this different from Mahāsthāmaprāpta? Evaluating merit and comparing virtue, the supreme sage equals their Path. Over the past seven days, Lin has only mindfully recited