傳法正宗記 5.49

5.49

Having heard the verse, Xuanzhi bowed twice and departed. Before long, the Venerable One passed away peacefully. This must have been at the time of the deposition and enthronement between the young ruler Zhao and Emperor Xiaozhuang of the Later Wei. This year corresponded to the second year of Datong of the Liang. In that year he was buried on Mount Xiong'er. Wei then announced his demise to Liang. Emperor Wu of Liang sent funerary gifts of precious silks and decreed that all imperial kinsmen and princes make offerings according to the funeral rites. The Crown Prince composed a text for him, which said in brief: "Vastly we reflect: the Master of sacred descent carried the wisdom-seal of the ten powers, rode upon the six supernatural knowledges to cross the sea, exercised compassion and wisdom in the land of Brahmā, and rescued those in peril in the land of China." Later, the Wei envoy Song Yun returned from the Western Regions and met Bodhidharma on the Pamir Mountains (Congling), seeing him walking along freely carrying a single sandal. Yun once asked: "Where is the Great Master going?" The Venerable One said: "Going to the Western Heavens." He then said to Yun: "Your lord has already passed away." Yun heard this, and in confusion they parted. When he reported back, Emperor Ming had indeed already passed away. Yun soon reported this matter to the later ruler, Emperor Xiaozhuang. The Emperor ordered his tomb opened and inspected; there was only a single leather sandal inside. The court was astonished and sighed in admiration. He soon decreed that the left-behind sandal be taken and kept at Shaolin Monastery. In the Kaiyuan era of the Tang, a meddler stole it and took it to a monastic cell on Mount Wutai, where it was later lost as well. Earlier, when Emperor Wu of Liang met the Venerable One, their affinities did not align. Soon he heard that his Way was greatly flourishing in Wei and wished to erect a stele for him, but had not yet found the leisure to do so. Upon hearing of the matter of Song Yun, he admired him even more in retrospect and composed a text, which said in brief: "Since the jade cotton has long turned to ash, the golden words have not been unfolded. Vowing to transmit the Dharma seal, he transformed people in Tianzhu. When he came to Liang leaning on his staff, he preached the unteachable Dharma, like raising a torch in a dark room, or like the bright moon parting the clouds. His fame shook China; his Way surpassed past and present. When the Emperor and Empress heard his name, they revered him as they do Vast Heaven." It also said: "Alas! Looking upon him, I did not see him; meeting him, I did not encounter him. Now as in the past, I regret and lament it! Though I am a mere ordinary mortal, I dare to take him as master hereafter!" Such was the monarchs' reverence and admiration for him.