華嚴經傳記 3.8

3.8

釋道昂。未詳其氏。魏郡人。風神清徹。高尚世表。慧解夙成。殆非開悟。初投于靈裕法師。而出家焉。既而飲沐清化。愛敬親承。歲積炎涼。齊蹤上位。常於寒陵山寺。陶融初教。日照高山此焉。欣屬講華嚴地論。諒超先哲。又曾登講之夜。素無燈燭。昂舉掌高示。便發暈光。朗照堂宇。大眾觀瑞。怪所從來。昂曰。此光手中恒有耳。何可怪耶。其福業隆深誠不可度也。化物餘景。志結西方。常願生安養。後自知命極。預告有緣。時未測其言也。期月既臨。一無信患。問齋時至未。景次昆吾。即昇高座。身含奇相。爐發異香。爰引四眾。受菩薩戒。詞理切要。聽者寒心。時七眾圍繞。飡承道味。昂舉目高視。乃見天眾繽紛絃管繁會。中有聲。告眾曰。兜率陀天樂音下迎。昂曰。天道乃生死根本。由來非願。常祈心淨土。如何此誠不遂耶。言訖便覩天樂上騰須臾還滅。更見西方香華伎樂飛涌而來旋環頂上。舉眾皆見。昂曰。大眾好住。今靈相來迎。事須同往。言訖但見香爐墜手。終于高座焉。春秋八十有九。則貞觀七年八月也。道俗共觀。崩慟如山。及將殯殮。足下有普光堂等文字生焉。自非道會靈章行符隣聖者。何能現斯嘉應哉。送寒陵山。鑿窟為處。經春不朽。端坐儼然。

Śramaṇa Dao'ang: his secular surname is not known; he was a native of Weijun. His spiritual disposition was clear and penetrating, soaring high above the worldly realm. His intuitive wisdom matured early, barely needing awakening. At first, he turned to Dharma Master Lingyu and went forth from the household life. Having bathed in his pure transforming influence, he served him intimately with love and reverence. As the years went by, his footsteps equaled the highest ranks. At the temple on Mount Hanling, he frequently harmonized the initial teachings; the sun shining upon the high mountain was happily realized in this. In lecturing on the Avataṃsaka Sūtra and the Daśabhūmika-śāstra, he truly surpassed former masters. Also, once on the night of giving a lecture, there was ordinarily no lamp or candle; Dao'ang raised his palm high to show it, and it emitted a halo of light, brightly illuminating the hall. When the great assembly saw the auspicious sign, they wondered where it came from. Dao'ang said, "This light is constantly present in my hand; what is there to marvel at?" His merit was profound indeed and truly beyond measure. In the remaining years of transforming beings, his aspiration was set on the Western region, and he constantly vowed to be born in Sukhāvatī. Later, knowing that his lifespan had reached its limit, he announced it in advance to those with whom he had affinity, but at the time no one could fathom his words. When the expected month arrived, he showed no signs of illness at all. He asked whether the time for the midday meal had arrived; as the sunlight reached the south, he mounted the high seat, his body bearing wondrous signs and the incense burner giving off an extraordinary fragrance. He then led the fourfold assembly to receive the bodhisattva precepts; his words and principles were incisive and essential, piercing the hearts of the listeners. At that time, the sevenfold assembly surrounded him, partaking of the taste of the Dharma. Dao'ang raised his eyes and looked up high, whereupon he saw celestial beings in colorful array and a rich ensemble of strings and pipes. From among them a voice spoke to the assembly, saying, "The musical sounds of the Tuṣita Heaven have descended to welcome you." Dao'ang said, "The heavenly realm is the root of birth and death; it has never been my vow. I have always prayed in my heart for the Pure Land; how could this sincerity not be fulfilled?" Having said this, he watched the heavenly music soar upward and disappear in a moment. Then he saw the incense, flowers, and heavenly music of the Western region surging forth and circling above his crown; the entire assembly saw this. Dao'ang said, "Great assembly, stay well! Now the auspicious signs have come to welcome me, and I must depart." Having said this, the incense burner was seen falling from his hand, and he passed away on the high seat. His age was eighty-nine; it was the eighth month of the seventh year of Zhenguan. Monastics and laypeople observed this together, weeping and wailing like collapsing mountains. When he was about to be laid in the casket, characters such as "Hall of Universal Light" appeared on the soles of his feet. Unless one's realization matches the sacred scriptures and one's conduct accords with those close to sagehood, how could such an auspicious response be displayed? He was sent to Mount Hanling, where a cave was carved out for his resting place. Passing through spring, his body did not decay, sitting upright and dignified.