大明高僧傳 7.31

7.31

Shi Zhice was styled Tudui. He was a son of the Chen family of Tiantai. Born clever and acute, he towered above the crowd of children. Not delighting in worldly splendors, he harbored thoughts of the vast void. When young, he shaved his hair under Chuguang of Huguo, who conferred on him the monastic decorum. With a single bowl in simple solitude, he thoroughly investigated the Tripiṭaka. He first visited Master Jishi Guang of Guoqing and had a clear awakening. Next, he went to Mingzhou to visit Chan Master Dayuan of Wanshou. [Dayuan] asked, "Where do you come from?" He said, "Tiantai." Yuan said, "Have you seen Zhiyi?" He said, "Right now, there is no lack either." Yuan said, "Why is he under your heels?" He said, "I missed him to his face." Yuan said, "A superior person sprouts without weeding, and stands straight without propping." One day, taking leave of Yuan, [Yuan] walked to the gate to see him off, patted his back, and said, "The place of jewels is near; this city is not real." Ce respectfully assented. Wishing to go to Yuzhang to study under Venerable Dianniu You, his path took him past Yunju. The pass was blocked by snow and no traveler could advance his steps. After forty-two days, at noon, he heard the striking of the clapper board and was thoroughly enlightened. When he reached Dianniu's gate, Niu pointed at Ce alone and said, "Where have you come from, having seen gods and seen ghosts?" He said, "I have come from hearing the clapper board at Yunju." Niu said, "What is it?" He said, "I have smashed empty space, and there is no handle at all." Niu said, "The transcendental matter is not yet here." He said, "Sitting darkly in the eastern house, and cursing loudly in the western house." Niu said, "Loftily transcending buddhas and patriarchs! In the future, a single qilin will be enough to raise our lineage." Later, by imperial decree, he resided at Shuangjing, widely propagating Dianniu's way. Learners from the four directions spread like fish scales and gathered like hedgehog quills. When he was about to manifest quiescence, he composed a funeral text for himself. He sat erect and listened attentively, and when it came to the words "Please partake," he smiled at it. Two days later, he bathed, changed his robes, gathered the assembly, and uttered a verse: / "Now that the four great elements scatter and fly, / Smoke and clouds return at their own will. / In the autumn sky on a frosty night, the moon / Shines its radiance ten thousand miles around." / Placidly, he passed away. His whole body was entombed in a stūpa at the foot of the eastern ridge of the temple.