高僧傳 12.22

12.22

On the eighth day of the fourth month in the seventh year of the Daming era, when he was about to submit himself to the flames, a cauldron was set up and oil was prepared south of Mount Zhong. On the morning of that day, he rode in an ox cart pulled by men, traveling from the temple to the mountain. Considering that an emperor is someone upon whom the myriad people rely and the Three Jewels are entrusted, he strained his strength to enter the imperial palace. Upon reaching the Yunlong Gate, unable to walk down, he had someone announce to the throne: "The religious man Huiyi is now relinquishing his body. He has come to the gate to pay his respects and bid farewell, deeply entrusting the Buddhadharma [to Your Majesty]." When the emperor heard this, his countenance changed, and he went out to the Yunlong Gate in person. Once [Hui]yi saw the emperor, he repeatedly entrusted the Buddhadharma to him, and then bade farewell and departed. The emperor also followed after him. The princes, consorts, empress, religious and laymen, and commoners filled the valleys, casting down garments and discarding treasures in incalculable quantities. [Hui]yi then entered the cauldron, seated himself upon a small stool, wrapped himself in robes and cloths, put a tall cap on top, and poured oil over himself, preparing to light the fire. The emperor ordered the Grand Preceptor to go to the cauldron to dissuade him, saying: "The practice of the Way has many paths; why must you end your life? Please think it over thrice and take another road." [Hui]yi's lofty resolve was resolute and firm, without a single thought of regret. He then replied: "Why is my minuscule body and lowly life worthy of being detained by Your Majesty? If the imperial heart's sage compassion is boundless, I wish that twenty men be permitted to receive pravrajyā." An imperial decree was issued granting this at once. [Hui]yi then held a torch in his own hand to light his cap. When the cap caught fire, he discarded the torch, joined his palms, and recited the 'Chapter on the Medicine King'. When the fire reached his eyebrows, the sound of his chanting was still distinct; when it reached his eyes, it became indistinct. Noble and base lamented and wailed, their cries shaking the secluded valley; there was none who did not snap their fingers, invoke the Buddha, and shed tears in desolation. The fire did not burn out until the next morning. At that time, the emperor heard pipes and reed instruments in the sky and smelled an extraordinary, fragrant scent. The emperor did not return to the palace until the day was spent. That night, he dreamed that he saw [Hui]yi arrive shaking his mendicant staff, once again entrusting the Buddhadharma to him. The next day, the emperor held an assembly to ordain monks, ordering the host of the vegetarian feast to proclaim aloud and describe the auspicious signs in full. The place where he burned his body was named Yaowang Temple, after the original events.