高僧傳 12.16

12.16

後隨要止臨川招提寺，迺密有燒身之意。常雇人斫薪，𧂐於東山石室，高數丈，中央開一龕，足容己身。迺還寺辭要，要苦諫不從。即於焚身之日，於東山設大眾八關，并告別知識。其日闔境犇波，車馬人眾及齎金寶者，不可稱數。至初夜行道，紹自行香，行香既竟，執燭然薪，入中而坐，誦《藥王．本事品》。眾既不見紹，悟其已去，禮拜未畢，悉至薪所。𧂐已洞然，誦聲未息。火至額，聞唱一心，言已奄絕。大眾咸見有一星，其大如斗，直下烟中，俄而上天。時見者咸謂天宮迎紹。經三日，薪聚乃盡。

Later, he followed Sengyao to stay at Chaoti Temple in Linchuan, where he secretly harbored the intention to burn his body. He constantly hired men to cut firewood and stacked it in a stone grotto on the Eastern Mountain; several zhang high, an alcove was opened in the center just large enough to accommodate his body. He then returned to the temple to take leave of Sengyao, who bitterly remonstrated with him, but he would not comply. On the day of his self-immolation, he held an eightfold poṣadha retreat for the great assembly on the Eastern Mountain and bade farewell to his friends. On that day, the entire district rushed thither in crowds; carriages, horses, spectators, and those carrying gold and jewels were countless. When it reached the first watch of the night to practice the path, Huishao personally offered incense; when the incense offering was complete, holding a torch, he set fire to the wood, went inside, sat down, and recited the 'Chapter on the Ancient Deeds of Bhaiṣajyarāja'. When the assembly could no longer see Huishao, they realized he had departed; before their bows were finished, they all rushed to the woodpile. The pyre was already blazing brightly, but the sound of his chanting had not yet ceased. When the fire reached his forehead, he was heard to chant 'Single-mindedness', and with those words he expired. The great assembly all saw a star, as large as a dou measure, descend straight into the smoke and, after an instant, rise into the sky. Those watching at the time all said that the heavenly palace had come to welcome Huishao. After three days, the woodpile was finally burnt out.