廣弘明集 13.63

13.63

The Bodhisattva says: Sūtras such as Laozi zhongtai jing state that Lao Dan was yellow in color, with a broad forehead, long ears, large eyes, widely spaced teeth, and thick lips; his hands grasped the character for 'ten', and his feet stepped on strokes forming two fives. These are merely abnormal features among humans, not the wondrous appearance of a sage. Historical records also state that Laozi had a high, thin nose, a pointed head, a high mouth, widely spaced teeth, squinting eyes, pulled-back ears, dark grey hair, an olive complexion, thick lips, and long ears. His form was like this; how could he compare to the Buddha? The Tathāgata's body is sixteen feet tall, upright and unswerving. His halo of seven feet illuminates all the dark realms. On his crown is an uṣṇīṣa, and his hair is dark violet-blue. His ears cover and hang down in lobes; his gaze is bright and clear. His cheeks are like a lion's; his seven places are full and rounded. His mouth has forty teeth, square, white, even, and straight. His tongue can cover his face, resembling the petal of a lotus. The inside and outside of his hands grip firmly, with palm lines fully formed. His voice roars like thunder, endowed with eight kinds of vocal qualities. Upon his chest is the svastika, and beneath his feet are wheels entwined a thousandfold. His complexion blends with purplish gold, his marks and signs difficult to name. He possesses the thirty-two marks and eighty auspicious signs. By emitting a single ray of light, the hells find rest; by expounding a single Dharma, bitter torments become peaceful and calm. All of this is listed in detail throughout the scriptures, so there is no need to recount it point by point.