三寶感應要略錄 2.144

2.144

Under the Song, Shi Huiyan was a monk of Dong'an Monastery in the capital. He once disliked the Great Nirvāṇa Sūtra for having too many characters, and thereupon excised and trimmed it, bringing it down to several fascicles. He copied two or three versions to show to like-minded persons. While lying asleep, he suddenly saw a man more than two zhang tall, of imposing bearing and energy, who said to him: 'The Nirvāṇa is an exalted sūtra, the ancestor of the various scriptures. How can you lightly deliberate and edit it?' [Hui]yan was dejected and displeased; yet thinking that his resolution was already set, he had no sense of remorse. The next evening, he saw the man of yesterday again, who looked angry and said: 'If one errs and knows to correct it, this is called not erring. Having informed you, will you still not cease? This sūtra of yours contains not a shred of principle, and moreover misfortune will reach you!' [Hui]yan awakened in fright, crying out aloud. Before the morning had half passed, he quickly dispatched messengers to retrieve all copies and burn them. Knowledgeable people admonished him, saying: 'This was a warning for future generations.' Although [Hui]yan agreed, he ended up harboring doubt and dread.