景德傳燈錄 1.98

1.98

The Ninth Patriarch, Buddhamitra, was a native of the kingdom of Diga, surnamed Vaiśāla. After receiving the entrustment from Buddhanandi, he later travelled to central India to teach. At that time, an elder named Xiangga (Incense Canopy) brought his son to pay homage to the Venerable One, saying, “This child remained in the womb for sixty years, so he was named Nansheng (Hard to Bear). I once also met an immortal who said this boy was extraordinary and would become a Dharma vessel. Now meeting the Venerable One, he may be allowed to leave home.” The Venerable One immediately shaved his head and conferred the precepts. At the time of the karmavācanā, an auspicious light illuminated the seat, and thirty (or seven) relics appeared before them. From then on he was diligent, forgetting fatigue. Later, the Master told him, “The Tathāgata's great treasury of the Dharma eye is now entrusted to you. You must protect and remember it.” He then spoke a verse: