神僧傳 7.21

7.21

The monk Vajrabodhi, translated into Chinese as Jin'gangzhi, was a native of the Malaya kingdom in South India. When only several years old, he could recite ten thousand words a day; what his eyes glanced upon, his mind retained, never forgetting it for the rest of his life. At sixteen, he awakened to the Buddhist principles, whereupon he shaved his head, dyed his robes, and renounced household life. Following his master, he traveled through various countries, arriving in Guangzhou during the Kaiyuan era. Later, he accompanied the imperial retinue to Luoyang. In that year, there was no rain from the first month until the fifth month. Prayers at sacred peaks, rivers, and spirit shrines went without response. An imperial edict was therefore issued ordering Jin'gangzhi to construct a maṇḍala altar and pray. Thereupon, relying on the Amoghapāśa Bodhisattva rite, he raised an altar at his dwelling four cubits deep. With his own hands, he painted an image of the Seven-Koṭi Bodhisattva, fixing a date and declaring that on the day of the eye-opening [consecration], rain would certainly fall. The Emperor sent Chan Master Yixing to observe closely and discreetly. When the seventh day arrived, the sweltering heat was blazing, and the sky was free of floating clouds. In the afternoon, just as [Jin'gangzhi] painted open the eyebrows and eyes, a northwest wind suddenly arose. Tiles flew and trees were uprooted; clouds burst open and poured down rain. Those far and near were astonished and terrified. At the site where the altar had been built, a hole was pierced through the roof, and [rain] flooded into the bodhimaṇḍa. At daybreak, all the common folk of the capital said, 'Jin'gangzhi caught a dragon, which breached the roof and flew away.' Tens of thousands of people came daily wishing to see the place. Earlier, the Emperor’s twenty-fifth princess was deeply beloved by him. Having been ill for a long time without cure, she was moved to lie in the outer lodge of Xianyi. With eyes closed and unable to speak, a month had already passed. An edict was issued ordering Jin'gangzhi to confer the precepts upon her; this order was given only because they anticipated her death. Jin'gangzhi went there, selected two seven-year-old girls from the palace, wrapped their faces and eyes with crimson silk, and had them lie on the ground. He had Niu Xiantong write a copy of the edict on a slip of paper and burn it elsewhere. Jin'gangzhi recited esoteric mantras over them, and the two girls in their trance could recite it without missing a single word. Jin'gangzhi entered samādhi, and by his inconceivable power caused the two girls to carry the edict to King Yama. Within the space of a meal, the King ordered the princess's deceased wet-nurse, Lady Liu, to escort the princess's soul back, following the two girls. Thereupon, the princess sat up, opened her eyes, and spoke as usual. When the Emperor heard of it, without waiting for his imperial guard, he galloped on horseback to the outer lodge. The princess reported to him: 'The decrees of the underworld cannot be altered. The King has only sent me back to briefly behold Your Majesty's face. After about half a day, I will depart forever.' From then on, the Emperor's devotion deepened even further. Consort Wu, who enjoyed extraordinary favor among the six imperial palaces, repeatedly offered precious curios. Jin'gangzhi urged the Consort to quickly make an image of the Bodhisattva Vajrāyus. He also urged the Prince of Hedong Commandery to paint an image inside the Vairocana Stūpa, saying to his disciples: 'The lifespans of these two will not last long.' After several months, it was entirely as he said. In the eighth month, just after the full moon, of the twentieth year, the renzhen year [732 CE], at Guangfu Monastery in Luoyang, he said to his disciples: 'When the bright moon is full, I shall depart.' He then bowed to Vairocana Buddha and circumambulated him seven times. Returning to his own quarters, he burned incense, made vows, placed the Sanskrit manuscripts together with the newly translated teachings atop his head, and entrusted them. Once this was completed, he peacefully passed away.