弘贊法華傳 5.7

5.7

Shi Huiyi was a native of Guangling. He left home at an early age and accompanied his master to reside in Shouchun. During the Xiaojian era of the Song, he went to the capital and stayed at Zhulin Temple, where he vigorously practiced ascetic austerities and vowed to burn his body. Those who heard of it either censured or praised him. In the fourth year of the Daming era (460), he began to abstain from grains, consuming only hemp and barley. By the sixth year (462), he also stopped eating barley and the like, consuming only melted butter (su) and oil. Soon after, he discontinued butter and oil as well, taking only incense pills. Although his four great elements were weak and frail, his spirit was alert and upright. Emperor Xiaowu deeply revered and marveled at him, sending attentive inquiries, and dispatched Grand Preceptor (Taizai) Prince of Jiangxia, Yigong, to visit the temple to dissuade Huiyi. Huiyi's sworn resolve remained unchanged. On the eighth day of the fourth month in the seventh year of the Daming era (463), about to undergo incineration, he set up a cauldron and prepared oil to the south of Mount Zhong. On the morning of that day, he rode in an ox cart pulled by men from the temple to the mountain. Considering that the emperor is the one upon whom the myriad people rely and the one to whom the Three Jewels are entrusted, he went in person into the imperial palace. Reaching the Yunlong Gate, unable to walk, he had someone announce: 'The man of the Way Huiyi is now about to cast off his body, and has arrived at the gate to bid farewell, deeply entrusting the Buddha-Dharma to Your Majesty.' When the emperor heard this, his countenance changed, and he personally stepped out through the Yunlong Gate. After Huiyi met the emperor, he repeatedly entrusted the Buddha-Dharma to him. Thereupon, he took his leave. The emperor followed soon after. Princes, consorts, empresses, monastics, and lay commoners filled the valleys, throwing down robes and discarding treasures beyond count. Huiyi then entered the cauldron, seated upon a small stool, wrapped in white cotton cloth (jiebei), with a tall cap placed upon his head, and had oil poured over it. When it was about to be set on fire, the emperor sent the Grand Preceptor to the cauldron to dissuade him, saying: 'There are many ways to practice the Way; why must you destroy your life? We hope you will think twice and take another path.' Huiyi's noble resolve was steadfast, without the slightest regret. He replied: 'Why should this insignificant body and humble life be preserved? If the imperial heart and holy compassion are boundless, I wish that twenty people be ordained as monks.' An imperial decree was issued granting this immediately. Huiyi then took a torch in his own hand to light the cap. Once the cap was lit, he discarded the torch, joined his palms, and recited the 'Chapter of Bhaiṣajyarāja'. When the fire reached his eyebrows, the recitation remained distinct; only when it reached his eyes did it grow faint. The noble and the base lamented and sighed, their voices echoing through the dark valleys; there were none who did not snap their fingers, invoke the Buddha, and weep in sorrow, wiping their tears. The fire burned until the following morning before dying down. At that time, the emperor heard pipes and flutes in the sky, and an extraordinary fragrance was richly scented. Only at the end of the day did the emperor return to the palace. That night, he dreamt of Huiyi arriving with a shaking tin staff, once more entrusting him with the Buddha-Dharma. The next day, the emperor held an assembly to ordain monks, ordering the host of the feast to make an announcement and recount the auspicious signs in full. At the site where he burned his body, Yaowang Temple (Temple of Bhaiṣajyarāja) was built to commemorate this original act.