續高僧傳 28.24

28.24

釋寶瓊。馬氏。益州綿竹人。小年出家。清貞儉素。讀誦大品兩日一遍。為常途業。歷遊邑洛無他方術。但勸信向尊敬佛法。晚移州治住福壽寺。率勵坊郭。邑義為先。每結一邑必三十人。合誦大品人別一卷。月營齋集各依次誦。如此義邑乃盈千計。四遠聞者皆來造欵。瓊乘機授化望風靡服。而卑弱自持先人後德。經行擁鬧下道相避。言問酬對怡聲謙敬。斯實量也不媚於時。本邑連比什邡諸縣。並是道民尤不奉佛。僧有投寄無容施者。致使老幼之徒於沙門像不識者眾。瓊雖桑梓習俗難改。徒有開悟莫之能受。李氏諸族正作道會。邀瓊赴之。來既後至不禮而坐。僉謂不禮天尊非法也。瓊曰。邪正道殊所事各異。天尚不禮何況老君。眾議紜紜頗相凌侮。瓊曰。吾禮非所禮。恐貽辱也。遂禮一拜。道像並座動搖不安。又禮一拜。連座返倒摧殘在地。道民相視謂是風鼓競來周正。瓊曰。斯吾所為。勿妄怨也。初未之信。既安又禮。如前崩倒。合眾驚懼舉掌禮瓊。一時迴信從受戒法。傍縣道黨相將歎訝。咸復奉法。時既創開釋化。皆授菩薩戒焉。縣令高遠者。素有誠敬。承風敷導。更於州寺召僧弘講合境傾味自此而繁。以貞觀八年。終於所住。

Śramaṇa Baoqiong, of the Ma family, was a native of Mianzhu in Yizhou. He entered the monastic life in his youth, pure, upright, frugal, and simple. He cantillated the Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra once every two days as his constant practice. Traveling through cities and Luoyang, he possessed no other methods, merely encouraging faith and reverence for the Buddha's Dharma. Later he moved to the prefectural seat and resided at Fushou Monastery, urging and inspiring the city neighborhoods, making associations of the faithful (yiyi) the priority. Whenever an association was formed, it invariably had thirty members, chanting the Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā together, each person responsible for one fascicle. Monthly vegetarian assemblies were held where each chanted in turn. Such associations of the faithful came to number more than a thousand. Those from far and wide who heard of it all came to pay allegiance. Baoqiong seized the opportunity to instruct and transform them, and they submitted upon hearing his fame. Yet he held himself in humility and weakness, putting others first and prizing virtue. When walking in meditation along crowded thoroughfares, he would step aside to yield way. When replying to questions, his voice was pleasing, modest, and respectful. This was his true disposition, not flattery of the times. The contiguous districts of his home county, such as Shifang, were all Daoist commoners who especially did not venerate the Buddha. When monks sought lodging, none would give them alms, so that among young and old, many did not even recognize the image of a śramaṇa. Although it was Baoqiong's native place, customs were hard to alter; he tried to enlighten them in vain, as none could accept it. Once, when the various clans of the Li family were holding a Daoist assembly, they invited Baoqiong to attend. Arriving late, he sat down without paying homage. Everyone declared that failing to pay homage to the Heavenly Worthy was contrary to propriety. Baoqiong said: 'The paths of heterodoxy and orthodoxy are distinct, and what we serve is different. I do not even pay homage to gods; how much less to Lord Lao!' The assembly's arguments raged, and they treated him quite insultingly. Baoqiong said: 'If I pay homage where homage is not due, I fear it will bring disgrace.' He then made one prostration, and the Daoist statues along with their seats shook unsteadily. He made another prostration, and together with their pedestals they tumbled and smashed to the ground. The Daoist commoners looked at one another, thought it was blown by the wind, and rushed to set them upright. Baoqiong said: 'This was done by me; do not place blame elsewhere.' At first they did not believe him, but once the statues were re-erected he bowed again, and they collapsed as before. The entire assembly was terrified; raising their palms, they bowed to Baoqiong and immediately converted in faith, receiving the precepts from him. The Daoist factions in neighboring counties also expressed astonishment and all returned to venerating the Dharma. As the Buddhist transformation had just begun, he bestowed the Bodhisattva Precepts on all of them. The county magistrate, Gao Yuan, who had always possessed sincere reverence, followed his influence to propagate guidance; he further summoned monks to the prefectural monastery to lecture widely, so that the entire region developed a thirst for the teaching, which flourished from then on. In the eighth year of the Zhenguan era [634 CE], Baoqiong passed away at his dwelling.