廣弘明集 24.36

24.36

省啟。承尊師昨夜涅槃。甚深悲怛。法師志業淹明道風淳素。戒珠瑩淨福翼該圓。加以識見冥通心解遠察。記落雨而必然。稱黑牛而匪謬。服膺者無遠近。蒙益者兼道俗。弟子自言。旋京輦便申結緣。豈謂一息不追奄至乎此。然勝業本深智力久利。必應遊神寶地騰跡淨天。但語其乳池啟殯香棺。入室不了空。心于何不慟。但如來降生之迹。因此而入泥洹。正當其生住滅靡有定相。先聖後賢何其形響。推校因緣未始有例。上人等並在三歲。積始終稟道。宜應共相策勉弘遵舊業。使道場無斷利益不墜。所襚物輒如法供養。奈何奈何。

I have read your report. Learning that your venerable master entered nirvāṇa last night, I am filled with profound grief. The Dharma Master's aspirations and achievements were profound and luminous; his conduct in the Way was pure and plain. The jewel of his precepts was spotless and clean; his wings of merit were vast and complete. In addition, his understanding and insight had subtle penetration, and the discernment of his mind investigated things from afar: his prediction of rainfall never failed to come true, and his mention of the black ox was not erroneous. Those who revered him came from near and far; those who received his benefit included both monastics and laity. I said to myself that upon returning to the capital, I would renew our bond; how could I have expected that breath would not return, suddenly arriving at this? Yet his supreme karma was fundamentally profound, and his power of wisdom had long been sharp; his spirit must surely roam the jewel grounds, and his steps soar to the pure heavens. But when speaking of opening the casket at the milk pond and the fragrant coffin, entering his chamber without fully realizing emptiness, how could the heart not be grieved? However, following the trace of the Tathāgata's descent and birth, he entered nirvāṇa accordingly. It is precisely when arising, abiding, and perishing have no fixed characteristics: how could former sages and later worthies be merely like form and shadow? Examining conditioned arising, there has never been an exception. You venerable ones have all accumulated three years of receiving the Way from beginning to end; you should mutually urge each other on to broadly honor his former work, so that the bodhimanda is not interrupted and its benefits do not fall away. The funeral offerings sent herewith are presented as offerings in accordance with the Dharma. What sorrow, what sorrow!