大唐故大德贈司空大辨正廣智不空三藏行狀 1.2.4

1.2.4

大師之教也。 如是大師。 其存也三朝帝師。 其歿也萬人哀痛。 教法懸於日月。 生死霑於雨露。 二七僧人。 常入天宮之會。 三千門士。 猶承聖上之恩。 且佛教東來。 向近二千載。 傳勝法。 沐光榮。 實未有與大師同年而語者也。 諸弟子等所痛。 夜室光沈。 釋門喪寶。 天柱中折。 濟舟忽覆。 氾氾苦海。 將何所依。 淚盡繼血。 心摧魄喪。 小子遷執巾棒錫九載于茲。 握筆持硯八年而已。 叨居翻譯之次。 竊承祕奧之躅。 大師所有行化之由。 會親稟受。 平生之日。 命令序述。 在於侍奉。 未暇修纂。 況乃奉臨終遺言。 固辭不獲。 臨之氣盡。 悲淚難裁。 乩諸故事。 十無在一。 謹狀。

these being the Master's teachings. Thus was the Master: while living, the Imperial Preceptor of three reigns; when dead, mourned by ten thousand people. His teachings hang alongside the sun and moon; beings in birth and death are moistened by his rain and dew. Twice seven monks regularly entered the assemblies of the celestial palace; three thousand disciples still receive the Holy Sovereign's favour. Furthermore, since Buddhism came to the east nearly two thousand years ago, in transmitting the supreme Dharma and receiving imperial glory, truly none can be mentioned in the same breath as the Master. What the disciples grieve over: the light in the dark room has sunk, the Śākya gate has lost its jewel, the heavenly pillar has snapped in the middle, and the rescue boat has suddenly overturned. Floating on the bitter sea, upon what shall we rely? Our tears are exhausted and followed by blood; our hearts are broken and our spirits lost. I, the humble youth Qian, have held the towel and borne the staff for nine years now, and have grasped the brush and held the inkstone for eight years. Unworthily occupying a place in the translation bureau, I have secretly received his esoteric footprints. The reasons and circumstances of all the Master's teaching and transforming were personally received by me; during his lifetime, he ordered me to compose an account. While attending upon him, I had no leisure to compile it; how much less could I firmly refuse when receiving his dying testamentary command! As his breath expired, my sorrowful tears could hardly be checked. Divining the past events, not one in ten is included here. Respectfully submitted.