高僧傳 5.25

5.25

When Fatai arrived in the capital, he stayed at Waguan Temple. Emperor Jianwen (Taizong) of the Jin deeply respected him and invited him to lecture on the *Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra*. For the great opening lecture, the emperor attended in person, and kings, marquises, dukes, and ministers all assembled without exception. Fatai's physical presence and understanding surpassed the ordinary, and his fame spread far and wide; on the day the lecture began, monastics and laypeople gathered to watch and listen, and men and women formed crowds. When disciples came to receive instruction, they sat side by side in order, and those from the Sanwu region who carried scripture satchels on their backs numbered in the thousands. Waguan Temple had originally been the site of a pottery works at the tomb of Shan Wanggong of Henan; during the Xingning reign period of the Jin, the śramaṇa Huili petitioned to make it a temple, but it had only a hall and a stūpa. When Fatai came to reside there, he further expanded the quarters, established various works of merit, and built double gates to suit the terrain. Sima Zong, the heir apparent of Runan, lived near the temple; he encroached on and excavated the side of the temple, causing the double gates to collapse, but Fatai took no offense. Zong was moved to realize his error and went in person to apologize and express regret; Fatai lay down to receive him, completely nonchalant as if no one were there. General of the Army Wang Qia, Wang Xun of Dongting, and Grand Tutor Xie An all respected him boundlessly. A few days before his death, he suddenly felt unwell and told his disciples: "I am about to depart." He passed away in the twelfth year of Taiyuan of the Jin, at the age of sixty-eight. An edict from Emperor Xiaowu (Liezong) stated: "Dharma Master Fatai spread the Way in all eight directions, and his beneficence flowed down to posterity. His sudden passing fills my heart with piercing grief. Let one hundred thousand cash be bestowed as a funeral gift, and let whatever is needed for the funeral rites be prepared accordingly." Sun Chuo composed a verse of praise for him: / "A cold wind brushes the forest; / sounding strings echo against the ravine. / Bright and distinct was Fatai; / in comparing his virtues, there was no shame."