大明高僧傳 7.16

7.16

Śramaṇa Shi Daomin was granted the title Yuanji ('Perfect Dynamic'). People of the world called him an ancient Buddha. He was a son of the Cai family of Xinghua. His mother dreamed that she swallowed a maṇi jewel and subsequently became pregnant. At five years of age, he could neither walk nor speak. One day, his mother carried him on a visit to Ximing Monastery. Seeing a Buddha statue, he hurried forward, joined his palms in reverent salutation, and called out, 'Namo Buddha!' Those who saw it found it exceedingly extraordinary. When he grew older, he pursued official studies in Daliang, but abandoned them to rely upon Dexiang at Jingde Monastery, where he left home and received ordination. He knocked at the gates of Chan monasteries everywhere and had a taste of all of them. Later, he personally attended Chan Master Guishan Zhe, but had no entry. He visited Venerable Gan of Letan and related in full what he had attained, but Letan did not give him his seal of approval. One day, Letan brought up the case of the Bhagavat holding up a flower and Kāśyapa faintly smiling, and questioned him about it, but there was no accord. Once, while accompanying Letan on a walk, Letan rested his staff on his shoulder, let out a long sigh, and said, 'Do you understand?' Min was about to reply when Letan struck him. After a short while, Letan picked up a blade of grass, showed it to him, and said, 'What is this?' Min was also about to reply when Letan shouted. Thereupon, his mental dynamic turned, and he was suddenly awakened to the profound purport. He then made the gesture of holding up a flower and said, 'This time you cannot deceive Elder Min!' Letan said, 'Speak at once!' Min said, 'Clouds rise on the South Mountain; rain falls on the North Mountain.' He then made three prostrations. Letan nodded and gave his seal of approval. Later, he opened the Dharma at Guanxi, and then moved to Yuantong, matching Daoji's prediction. Students came like rivers rushing to the sea. The imperial court heard of his Way, and the prime ministers jointly requested that he be bestowed the imperial robe, granted him the title Yuanji, and treated him with great esteem. Thereupon, near and far admired his transforming influence, and young and old alike were bathed in the moisture of his Dharma. His end is not known in detail.