大明高僧傳 7.12

7.12

Shi Fayi, styled Xuechao, was a great-great-grandson of Li Zunxu, Prince Consort and Commandery Prince of Xiangyang. For generations his family had resided in Xiangfu County, Kaifeng. His mother dreamed that an old monk arrived at their house, and then gave birth to him. His voice was resounding, his bearing magnificent, and he possessed the marks of a great man. At seventeen he was tested for admission to the imperial academy. His great-uncle served as an official in Huainan and wished to appoint him to office, but he would not take it, requesting to leave home to serve Chan Master Changlu Cijue Ze. His great-uncle would not permit it. His mother said, “This child must have been a śramaṇa in past lives. I pray you do not thwart his aspirations.” Before long, Cijue passed away. Fayi bowed to Chan Master Tongzhao Yuan of Lingyan and had his hair shaved. He relied on him for ten years, but felt his mind bewildered and depressed, finding no entry into the Way. He then went to Mount Jiang to visit Yuanwu. Yuanwu took a liking to him upon their first meeting. Just then, Yuanwu received an imperial decree to reside at Tianning, and Fayi also attended him, but their understanding did not tally. Next he visited Caotang at Mount Shu; under a single word, he suddenly penetrated to the ultimate source. In the seventh year of the Shaoxing era, the prefect of Quan, Liu Yanxiu, invited him to dwell at Yanfu. He was transferred through four great monasteries, and finally resided at Changlu. Yearning for the scenic beauty of Tiantai, he thought of it morning and night. Thereupon he requested to retire and dwell at Gu Pingtianguanyin Cloister on the mountain. Lying high amid the mists and clouds and chanting long among the deep verdure, he lived in the world yet forgot the world. One day he suddenly manifested a slight illness, wrote a verse saying:

“This year I am seventy-five,
Returning to be the master in the hermitage.
Take care, Avalokiteśvara:
The mud snake swallows the stone tiger.”

Thereupon he entered the niche, sat cross-legged, bid farewell to the assembly, and passed away. A stupa was erected on his mountain.