冥報記 1.4

1.4

Śramaṇa Huiru of Zhenji Monastery in the capital practiced austerities with energetic diligence in his youth, serving Xinxing as his teacher. After Xinxing's death, he respectfully followed his teachings. During the Daye era of the Sui, while practicing seated meditation to cultivate samādhi, he remained motionless for seven days. The assembly all marveled at this, believing that he had entered samādhi. Shortly afterward, Huiru opened his eyes, tears streaming down his face. The monastic assembly was surprised and questioned him, to which he replied: 'My foot was burned by fire and hurts; wait until I have examined the wound before I speak.' The assembly was even more surprised and questioned him further. Huiru said: 'I was summoned by King Yama and completed seven days of practicing the Way. The King asked: "Do you need to see any of your deceased spiritual companions?" Ru replied: "I wish to see two people." The King immediately sent for one person, but only a turtle was seen coming; it licked Huiru's feet, shed tears from its eyes, and left. As for the other person, [the King] said his sins were too heavy for him to be summoned, and ordered that [Huiru] go to see him. A messenger led Huiru to the gates of hell; the gate was closed very securely. The messenger called out to the gatekeeper, and someone answered. The messenger told Huiru: "Master, quickly move out of the way; do not stand facing the gate!" Just as Ru moved aside, the gate opened, and a great fire streamed out of it. Like molten iron being forged, a spark flew out and stuck to Ru's foot. Ru brushed it away with his robe. Looking up at the gate, it was already closed, and in the end they could not see each other. The King bestowed thirty bolts of silk upon him; [Huiru] firmly declined, but the King would not permit it, saying that he had already sent it to his rear chamber.' The monks rushed to the rear chamber to look, and the silk was indeed on his bed. The burn wound on his foot was as large as a coin, and healed only after more than a hundred days. He died in the early Wude era. Zhenji Monastery is the present-day Huadu Monastery. (This monastery was founded by Lin's maternal grandfather, Duke Qi; Lin often visited there, and heard his uncle recount it in this way).