三寶感應要略錄 1.87

1.87

In the time of Sun Hao, there was a king. Zheng Jie submitted a memorial saying: "The Buddha Dharma should be experienced in the Middle Kingdom and not placed among the barbarian gods." Hao then issued an edict gathering the śramaṇas, and deployed troops to surround the monastery, intending to execute them and abolish [the teaching]. He said to the Dharma Master Seng Hui: "If the Buddha is divine, he should be revered; if he lacks efficacy, then all the black-robed monks will share the same fate today!" Some monks hanged themselves, while others fled outside. Hui then requested a fast with a seven-day period to manifest the divine. He filled a bronze bowl with water, placed it in the courtyard, and when the meal was finished, it began to shine and radiate brilliance. Suddenly a sound was heard: the bowl in the courtyard clanged with a loud noise, and relics were suddenly seen, their bright light illuminating the courtyard and eaves, floating upon the bowl. Hao and the great assembly stepped forward to look; terrified and bewildered, he left his seat, altered his countenance, and stepped forward. Hui said: "Your Majesty may order someone with the strength of Meng Ben to strike it with a hammer of a hundred jun. With its diamond-like nature, it will never be shattered or broken." Hao did as he said. It was said that they first chanted sūtras, bowed in worship, scattered flowers, burned incense, and chanted aloud: "Truly, the tracks of the compassionate Maitreya's coming have not ceased; then the wheel of the Dharma will turn, penetrating the dark paths. Let your divine majesty manifest in the unseen realm, not in a small way. If not today, then the Three Jewels will be cut off forever!" When the words were finished, the soldier swung the hammer, raising wind. The onlookers trembled and held their breath. The hammer shattered, but the relic was not damaged; radiant light burst from the hammer, its dazzling brilliance filling the space. Hao submitted, surrendered his sincere heart, and encouraged the hosting of fasts and lectures. A stone pagoda stood north of the Great Market of Jiantang, which later still produced luminous portents. In the autumn of the nineteenth year of the Yuanjia era, the monastery's spire emitted bright light at night; vivid river-like colors shone out, and there was an extraordinary light of fire. It ascended to the fourth story, circling from the west to the south. Then, burning grandly, it soared upward, forming a great lotus flower. Thereupon faith was aroused, and a monastery was erected for it, named Jianqie, and the name of the place where they dwelt was changed to Buddha Land.