弘贊法華傳 3.10

3.10

釋慧遠。俗姓杜氏。京兆人也。弱不好弄。便慕內法。年甫十歲。投吉藏法師而出家焉。具戒已後。博文多識。講法花經。皆自作章疏。晚辭人境。卜居藍谷。乘閑樂道十有餘載。貞觀十九年。在寺夏坐。時屬亢旱。乃講法華。以祈甘液。遠近聽之。雲集霧委。每有二老。應時而坐。既非舊識。遠默記之。潛思詰問。未之發也。既講至藥草喻品。大雨霑洽。向之二老。三日不來。後策杖俱臻。遠怪呼而問。乃逡巡對曰。弟子龍也。比蒙法師弘譬喻之品。開方便之門。思酬德惠。忽然降雨。但時未應下。敢擅灑之。故為龍王所笞耳。因忽不見。遠所服三衣。特加護淨。或時飄然自被其體。而雅性謙挹。雖遇沙彌。必下騎而在問也。或問其故。答曰。髣髴染衣。仙聖幢相。師子致敬。今成正學。在余一介。敢不遵乎。遠常誦法華。頻有靈感。或不加油炷燈。數日自明。後染患浹辰。斂念而卒。年五十有一。貞觀二十一年七月也。

Shi Huiyuan, whose secular surname was Du, was a native of Jingzhao. In his youth he was not fond of frivolous play, but soon aspired to the inner teachings. When he was just ten years of age, he went to Dharma Master Jizang and left the household life. After receiving the full precepts, he was widely learned and knowledgeable; whenever he lectured on the Lotus Sūtra, he always composed his own commentaries. In his later years, he bid farewell to human society and chose a dwelling in Langu, availing himself of leisure to take joy in the Way for more than ten years. In the nineteenth year of Zhenguan, while in the temple for the summer retreat, there happened to be a severe drought; he thereupon lectured on the Lotus Sūtra to pray for sweet nectar. Those from near and far who came to listen gathered like clouds and amassed like fog. There were always two old men who would sit according to the time. Since they were not old acquaintances, Yuan made a silent note of them, secretly intending to question them, though he had not yet done so. Once he lectured up to the Medicinal Herbs Chapter, heavy rain fell thoroughly soaking [the earth]. The aforementioned two old men did not come for three days. Later they arrived together leaning on canes. Yuan wondered at it, called them, and asked. Hesitating, they answered, saying, 'Your disciples are dragons. Recently, receiving your propagation of the chapter of parables and opening of the gate of expedients, we thought to repay your virtuous kindness and suddenly caused rain to fall. However, it was not yet time for rain, and we dared to sprinkle it arbitrarily; therefore, we were flogged by the Dragon King.' With that, they suddenly vanished. The three robes that Yuan wore were guarded with exceptional purity; at times they would flutter and drape over his body of themselves. Moreover, by nature he was humble and modest; even if he encountered a śrāmaṇera, he would surely dismount his horse and stand to inquire. Someone asked him the reason, and he answered, 'The resemblance of dyed robes is the banner-mark of sages and immortals; even lions pay homage to it. Now they practice right study—as a mere single individual, how could I dare not revere it?' Yuan constantly recited the Lotus Sūtra and frequently had spiritual responses; at times, without oil added to the lamp wick, it would stay bright of itself for several days. Later he fell ill, and after twelve days he gathered his mindfulness and passed away. His age was fifty-one; it was the seventh month of the twenty-first year of Zhenguan.