宋高僧傳 18.8

18.8

Śramaṇa Hyegwang was a native of Ungju in the land across the eastern sea. From youth he was intelligent and perceptive, suddenly tiring of the dust of the mundane world; he resolved to seek out renowned masters and dedicated himself to cultivating pure conduct. When he grew up, he vowed to cross the azure sea to seek the dhyāna teachings of the Central Plains. Thereupon he traveled to the state of Chen, journeyed on to Mount Heng, and met the Great Preceptor Huisi, whose instruction transformed beings and whose divine understanding meshed with his own. Master Huisi perceived his capacity and secretly conferred on him the *Method of Ease in Practice from the Lotus Sūtra*. Gwang's acumen was like a divine drill, penetrating any hardness; his freshness was like cotton cloth, taking on any dye brightly. Receiving and practicing it diligently without error, he soon realized the Lotus Samādhi and requested certification. Huisi certified him, saying: 'What you have realized is real and not false. Protect and maintain it well, causing the Dharma to increase and grow. When you return to your native land, employ skillful means; gather the adopted young with care, so that all may be transformed into wasps.' Gwang bowed and wept, and from then on carried his staff back toward the South of the Yangtze. He boarded a vessel of his home country to return. As they departed from the shore, variegated clouds dazzled the eyes, elegant music resounded in the sky, and crimson tallies and rainbow pennants were heralded as they approached. A voice from the void said: 'The Heavenly Emperor summons Dhyāna Master Hyegwang of the eastern seas.' Gwang clasped his hands and yielded, seeing only blue-clad attendants leading the way; after a short while, he entered a palace city, which was clearly no human official residence. The feathered guards were all scaled and shelled creatures, mingled with ghosts and spirits. Someone said: 'Today the Heavenly Emperor has descended to the Dragon King's palace, requesting the master to expound the teaching he has personally realized, so that our water realm may receive the master’s benefit.' Having ascended the jeweled palace and then the high terrace, he expounded according to their questions, which lasted roughly seven days. Afterward, the King personally saw him off; the ship had floated on the ocean without advancing. When Gwang reboarded the ship, the crew thought only half a day had elapsed. Gwang returned to Mount Ong in Ungju, planted his staff, built a thatched hut, and established a monastery. Like-minded souls responded in resonance, and those who obtained the Dharma opened their long-shut doors; those who rejoiced in the lesser path had a change of heart, and those yearning for truth gathered swiftly like ants. One person ascended the hall to receive prediction, one entered the fire-light samādhi, and two entered the water-light samādhi, mutually attaining these two kinds of Dharma gates. The samādhi names were manifested according to their attainments. His other disciples were like the flock of birds flocking to Mount Sumeru, all sharing the same golden hue. When Gwang reached the end of his life, none knew where he went. When the patriarchs of the Southern Marchmount built their portrait hall, they painted twenty-eight masters inside, and Gwang was one of them. The Patriarchal Hall of Guoqing Temple on Mount Tiantai did likewise.