弘贊法華傳 3.12

3.12

左僕射宋國公蕭瑀。字時父。蘭陵人。高祖梁武帝。父明帝。公深信釋典。捐棄外學。時處會讌。勅每別賜素食。又賜王褒手書大品經一部。山納袈裟一領。公雖參國務。而誦念無虧。手著法花義記凡十卷。時於第內為子姪講之。疏成之日。夢多寶佛塔炳耀空中。因召名工造茲妙塔。貞觀二十二年六月。卒於玉花宮。未終之前。遺囑云。吾之衣服道具。並送津梁寺。同僧羯磨。其上賜山衲。及高祖樹皮衲。鐵如意。曲几。麈尾。香爐。澡灌。玉唾壺。瑪瑙珠。朝冠。器服。並入常住。永為供養。

Xiao Yu, the Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and Duke of Song, whose courtesy name was Shifu, was a native of Lanling. His great-great-grandfather was Emperor Wu of Liang, and his father was Emperor Ming. The Duke had deep faith in the Buddhist scriptures and cast aside non-Buddhist learning. Whenever he was present at banquets, by imperial order he was always granted a separate vegetarian meal. He was also bestowed a copy of the Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā Sūtra written in Wang Bao's own hand, and a mountain patchwork kaṣāya. Although the Duke took part in state affairs, his recitation and mindfulness never suffered neglect. He personally composed the Fahua yiji (Record of the Meaning of the Lotus) in ten fascicles, occasionally lecturing on it inside his mansion for his sons and nephews. On the day the commentary was completed, he dreamed of the Prabhūtaratna Stūpa shining brightly in the sky, and thereupon summoned famous craftsmen to construct this wondrous stūpa. In the sixth month of the twenty-second year of Zhenguan, he died at Yuhua Palace. Before his end, he left his final instructions, saying, 'All my clothing and implements are to be sent to Jinliang Temple for a joint saṅghakarma. The mountain patchwork robe bestowed from above, the tree-bark patchwork robe of my great-great-grandfather, the iron ruyi sceptre, the curved armrest, the chowry fly whisk, the incense burner, the washing water vessel, the jade spittoon, the agate beads, the court cap, utensils, and clothing, shall all enter the permanent property [of the monastery] to serve as eternal offerings.'