宋高僧傳 2.12

2.12

Earlier, when Śubhakarasiṃha's journey passed through the borders of Northern India, his renown had already reached China. Emperor Ruizong issued an edict ordering Ruona and General Shi Xian to travel beyond the Yumen Pass to await his coming. In the early Kaiyuan era, Emperor Xuanzong dreamed of meeting a true monk whose appearance was extraordinary, and the Emperor personally wielded pigments to paint it on the palace wall. When Śubhakarasiṃha arrived, he matched the dream completely. The Emperor rejoiced in their karmic affinity, adorned the Inner Bodhimaṇḍa, and venerated him as the master of the teachings; from the Prince of Ning and Prince of Xue on down, all knelt on the mat and held his vessels. Treating the Great Being as a guest in the heavenly palace and welcoming the Sanskrit seat at the imperial throne, he honored the National Preceptor with the way of Guangcheng and led the ruler of men into the vehicle of the Tathāgata. The sublime Dharma gate flourished greatly at this time. At that time, there was an occult master who commanded pacts with ghosts and spirits and participated in the power of transformations; receiving an imperial edict to the imperial presence, he vied with him in supernatural wonders. Śubhakarasiṃha remained calm and unmoved, and the occult master found himself with no means to employ his craft.