淨土往生傳 1.7

1.7

Shi Huiyong, whose surname was Po, was a native of Henei. At the end of the Eastern Jin, he served Śramaṇa Zhu Tanxian as his master. Later, hearing that Dharma Master Dao'an was a model for the age, he bowed his heart and followed him to study from a thousand li away. At that time, many troubles plagued the Central Plains, and the people devoured one another; he originally wished to cross south over the Five Ridges and rest in the shade of Mount Luofu. But as soon as he reached Xunyang, the commandery resident Tao Fan earnestly pleaded with him to stay. He then entrusted himself to the West Forest (Xilin) of Mount Lu, and did not change places for years. His disciples gradually flourished. Master Huiyuan also came to reside there, and thereupon they agreed to make it their final dwelling. Huiyuan lived at East Forest for thirty years, his shadow never leaving the mountain; Huiyong at West Forest did the same. In addition, he savored the scriptures and vinaya, expounding and lecturing with great clarity; dressed in plain cotton robes and eating coarse food, he joyfully passed his years. Once, wishing to settle his mind in a quiet realm to practice the various samādhis, he built a chamber on the peak of the mountain where he resided. Whenever Huiyong arrived at the chamber, the tigers beside it would submit and be tamed; if visitors feared them, he would drive the tigers away, but they would soon return and crouch down. He also once walked to Wu Bridge; the commander of the Wu Bridge garrison was riding a horse while under the influence of alcohol, blocking the road. As the sun was setting, Huiyong had nowhere to withdraw; he raised his staff and pointed at the horse from afar. The horse took fright and the commander fell off, consequently becoming severely ill. Soon the commander felt regret and sought him out. Huiyong said: "The spirit protecting the precepts is fierce; for such a madman, why show regret to Yong?" Yet Huiyong was genuine, plain, and natural by nature, his words never harming any creature; his sincerity was displayed and his vows were planted, every action directed toward Anyang. In the tenth year of the Yixi era, encountering illness, he drew together his robes, collected his mindfulness, closed his eyes, and faced west. In a short while he sought his sandals and wished to rise. The assembly felt doubt and dread, and stepped forward to ask him. Huiyong said: "I rise because the Buddha has come; why do you question it?" Soon thereafter he passed away. Monastics and laity rushed to the site, all smelling a heavenly fragrance, which ceased only after seven days.