續高僧傳 9.24.2

9.24.2

Having probed the profound [aspects of] studies, he composed treatises as he read; these each formed categories, whose titles are listed below. At that time there occurred a year of famine, and there was no way to obtain grain. He composed a divination book in one fascicle and had someone use it to divine and charge a fee, setting two sheng of rice a day as his constant quota. Before long, his words proved prescient, and those with doubts gathered in clamour, so that the rice he obtained became plentiful. [Ling]yu said, "The ancients had a saying: 'Licking honey brings a blade's wound.' This is verified today." He asked for the divination book and burned it before the crowd. Daily he went by himself; in a moment he gained the price, rolled up his mat, and returned. The food and supplies he obtained were promptly brought back, using them to provide for those in the same distress, thus getting through the years. When the Great Sui dynasty arose, the Buddhist teachings flourished anew. [Ling]yu's virtue shone among earlier worthy men, and he was promptly sought out and promoted. In the third year of the Kaihuang reign-era, Fan Shulüe, the regional inspector of Xiangzhou, initiated and promoted lecture assemblies, inviting various monks, and in setting up the principles he placed him foremost to entrust clearly with the bequeathed Dharma. At each session, followers gathered by the thousands, filling the gates. [Ling]yu was regarded as the foremost authority, truly answering their profound expectations. An imperial edict commanded the establishment of monastic officials, and [Fan] Shulüe thereupon recommended him as metropolitan leader (dutong). He then spoke to [Fan] Shulüe, saying, "As for the virtue of a metropolitan leader, [Ling]yu's virtue is not such virtue; as for the utility of a metropolitan leader, [Ling]yu's utility is not such utility. Since neither my virtue nor my utility suits the vessel, both principle and circumstance make it hard to comply." All said that to omit this man would be to forfeit the chief principle in recommendation. Later, [Fan Shulüe] renewed his invitation, so [Ling]yu slipped away to travel in Yan and Zhao. For five years he carried out conversions, his Way shaking both rivers. In the tenth year of Kaihuang, while at Lingtong Temple in Mingzhou, he found a document in the courtyard at night, stating that the distress of his life's retribution lay in Xianyang. At first no one could fathom how this could be. By the next year, Emperor Wen revered the Buddhist gate and inquired far and wide for eminent men. All said that [Ling]yu's virtue covered the expectations of the age. Thereupon [the Emperor] issued an edict saying: "We respectfully inquire after Dharma Master Lingyu of Daci Temple in Xiangzhou. We revere the Triratna, our devotion being profound. We constantly wish to expound and spread the Great Vehicle and protect and maintain the true Dharma. The Dharma Master's brahma conduct is refined and pure, and his principles and meanings are profound and far-reaching; he broadly disseminates the profound teachings and guides the deaf and blind. Both monastics and laity admire and look up to him, yearning to make him a field of merit. The capital is looked up to by all under Heaven, where the four quarters converge. Therefore, from afar We summon the Dharma Master to build meritorious works together. You should understand Our intention and enter the capital promptly." Upon receiving the letter, [Ling]yu reflected and said, "The distress of Xianyang is verified herein! Yet life has its vicissitudes; I can decline on account of illness." But he also said, "Karmic conditions have arrived; even a sage finds them hard to oppose." He then walked on foot into Chang'an without riding in the official carriages. He was seventy-four years of age at the time. An edict was sent to console and attend to him, ordering him to reside at [Da]xingshan [Temple]. [The Emperor] further ordered the relevant authorities to assemble the monks of note and deliberate on appointing a national leader (guotong). The assembly's deliberations were unanimous, with no dissenting voice. [Ling]yu smiled and said, "I should explain it thoroughly to you; what is the use of such chatter?" He then submitted a memorial declining and requesting to return, setting forth his words with meticulous care. The Emperor examined the memorial, probed the circumstances, and accordingly permitted him to return. The vice directors of the Department of State Affairs, Gao Jiong and others, wished him to retain the grave position of leader and again submitted a memorial requesting his retention. The Emperor thereupon issued an edict commanding him to stay there for the time being. [Ling]yu said, "A lord of a state does not go back on his word. Now to retain me once more is not permissible in my feelings." He told his disciples, "For a king's ministers to draw close, there has long been a pledge: if too close, they despise the person and belittle the Dharma; if they withdraw, they do not lack distant respect. Therefore I must weigh adherence and withdrawal." Soon three edicts arrived in succession firmly inviting him. [Ling]yu held fast to his resolve as before. The Emperor said to Su Wei, "We know that Master [Ling]yu has integrity and uprightness; he is a man of self-mastery, who truly cannot be made to compromise his principles." He then ordered the Left Vice Director Gao Jiong, the Right Vice Director Su Wei, the Palace Secretary Yu Qingze, the Area Commander He Ruobi, and other lords to go to the temple to announce the imperial decree, receive the precepts and repent sins on behalf of the Emperor, and present three hundred pieces of damask, brocade, garments, and plain silk to help construct a mountain temple. The Emperor himself inscribed the plaque: "It may be named Lingquan." The provisions and gifts were exceptionally generous, exceeding ordinary regulations. He walked with all his might and returned, reaching his home district. Looking back, he said, "Has not the distress of going and returning passed away without harm?" From this point, imperial inquiries repeatedly arrived, and donations and gifts were bestowed layer upon layer. Those seeking clarification of doubts and requesting decisions came from afar, and those hungering for the wind and bathing in the Way again gathered before him. Later in life, [Ling]yu also resided at Yankong Temple, west of the seat of Xiangzhou. He upheld his conduct even more firmly and practiced his discipline even more austerely. When the Emperor heard of it, he again issued an edict, saying: "We respectfully inquire after the Bhadanta Dharma Master Lingyu of Yankong Temple. We revere the sacred teachings and renew the Triratna, wishing to enable all living beings to partake in the power of merit. The Dharma Master has abandoned worldly dust and committed himself to the Dharma gate. Being so refined and sincere, you deeply fulfill Our intent." Such were the solicitous inquiries made of him by the ruler of the state. In the middle of the Renshou reign-era, when relics were distributed to various prefectures to raise stupas, many transformed omens appeared, and the people of the time all praised them as auspicious signs. When [Ling]yu heard of it, he sighed and said, "These signs portend both misfortune and fortune. Because there were mixed white flowers, white trees, white stupas, and white clouds, though the signs manifest auspicious conditions, they constitute ill omens." The crowd at first did not believe it. Soon, Empress Xian and Emperor Wen passed away in succession, and the entire state donned white mourning clothes—his words proved true. The stone base of the hall where the Regional Inspector of Xiangzhou, Duke of Neiyang Xue Zhou, resided suddenly turned to jade. Xue Zhou considered it an auspicious sign and held a vegetarian feast to celebrate it. [Ling]yu said, "This is merely vaidūrya; you should be cautious and take heed, and you may avert it through merit." Xue Zhou did not heed his words. Later, when Yang Liang rebelled, [Xue Zhou] was implicated in the affair and was exiled to the frontier borderlands. Regretting his earlier failure to be cautious, it was already too late. Furthermore, regarding the nine-tiered pagoda he built at Mount Hanling, by the end of the Renshou reign-era, only four tiers had been constructed. One morning, [Ling]yu urgently urged them, saying, "All is impermanent; affairs encounter hindrances and stops." Building continuously through the night, they were about to complete the eighth tier when an order was given to halt construction; they were only able to set up seats and arrange benches. Just then, the incident at Jinyang occurred, and the common people had nowhere to turn; [Ling]yu's life was also left in balance the following year. His prescient foresight was always like this. At that time, it was widely rumored in Ye that Master [Ling]yu was about to pass away. Monastics and laity gathered like clouds to receive the refuges and precepts together. They sought where the report had originated, but found no trace; [Ling]yu also believed that his merit and lifespan were exhausted. He then showed and instructed on good and evil, admonishing all his disciples. From the moment he felt unwell, upon reaching the seventh day, he took up a brush and composed two poems. The first lamented his swift end: / "Today I sit in the high hall, / Tomorrow morning I lie among the long thorns. / One life is now casually completed; / When will the coming retribution cease?" / The second grieved over his eternal demise: / "When life ends, I take leave of the mortal way; / My corpse is sent before the ghost gate. / After this single parting, / In how many years will we meet again?" / In the night, he told his attendant, "The pain is now in my back. I am about to depart." When the third watch came, a strange fragrance suddenly filled the room, startling all within and without.