曆代法寶記 1.4

1.4

The second patriarch of the Northern Qi dynasty was Chan Master Huike. His secular surname was Ji, and he was a native of Wulao. At that time he was forty years old. He served the Great Master for six years. Formerly his name was Shenguang. When he first served the Great Master, he stood before him; that night heavy snow fell up to his waist, yet he did not move. The Great Master said, "One who seeks the Dharma does not begrudge body or life." Thereupon he severed an arm, whereupon white milk flowed forth. The Great Master silently transmitted the mind-seal and conferred one kāṣāya. The Great Master said, "Because of this poison, you too will not escape [trouble]; take good care of yourself." Master Ke asked the Upādhyāya, "Regarding the Dharma that has been handed down and entrusted from above in your native country, please explain it again." It is fully as spoken in the preface to the *Dhyāna Sūtra*. He also asked the Great Master, "In the Western Countries, who will succeed later, and is the robe of verification also transmitted?" The Great Master replied, "The people of the Western Countries have faith and reverence, and are without deceit. The successor is Prajñāpāramitāra; the successor does not transmit the robe. The sentient beings of the Tang land possess the nature of the Great Vehicle, yet they falsely claim to have attained the Way and attained the fruit. Therefore, the kāṣāya is transmitted to serve as verification of the Dharma. It is like the prince of a cakravartin who receives anointment on his crown, thereby obtaining the seven true treasures and succeeding to the royal throne; obtaining this robe signifies the correct lineage of the Dharma." After Master Ke received the entrustment, he went into hiding for forty years in Mount Wang and the two prefectures of Luo and Xiang. Later he guided all classes of beings; monastics and laypeople who took refuge were beyond count. During the twenty years he was opening and transforming, difficulties arose. Again, the associates of the Tripiṭaka [master] Bodhiruci and Vinaya Master Guangtong wished to harm Master Ke. After the master had entrusted the Dharma to Sengcan, he entered Mount Sikong to hide. Later Master Ke feigned madness and preached the Dharma in city streets and markets; the multitudes of people were very numerous. The faction of Bodhiruci reported Master Ke, saying he was a bizarre sorcerer, and memorialized for an imperial decree. An imperial decree ordered the relevant authorities to interrogate Master Ke. The master replied, "Indeed, I am truly a sorcerer." The authorities knew the multitude was envious, and ordered Master Ke to reconsider. The master answered firmly, "I am truly a sorcerer." An imperial decree ordered the magistrate of Cheng'an County, Zhai Chongkan, to carry out punishment according to the law. Master Ke addressed the crowd, saying, "When my Dharma reaches the fourth patriarch, it will transform into names and characteristics." Having spoken, he shed tears of sorrow. Then he manifested his physical body flowing with white milk, with the color of his flesh remaining as usual. The authorities memorialized the emperor. Hearing this, the emperor repented of his error: "This is a true bodhisattva!" The entire court gave rise to the aspiration [for awakening], and the Buddha-Dharma flourished once again. The master was then one hundred and seven years old. His tomb is buried five li north of the Zimo River in Cheng'an County, Xiangzhou; Dongliugou is one hundred paces from the tomb, and fifteen li to the southwest is Wuer Caokou. The *Gushi of the Laṅkāvatāra at the Capital Ye* fully records this. The disciple who succeeded him, transmitted the robe, and attained the Dharma was Sengcan. Later, Shi Falin composed a stela inscription.