廣弘明集 16.43

16.43

In the fine scenery of late spring, the wind and clouds are radiant and beautiful. The orchid leaves can be held in hand, and one can bathe in the Yi River. In Shaonan, you, my brother, have few litigations, at times resting beneath the shade of the sweet pear; governing Jizhou, you temporarily pause the affairs of lifting carriage screens. Tang Jing presented the rhapsody of great words; An Tai expounded the eloquence of linked rings. Exhausting the beauty of recreation, is it not truly delightful? In early spring, I lay ill, becoming utterly worn out and depleted. Even with the white deer of the Western Mountains, I fear I could not recover; with Ziyu's red pill, I still worry about not rallying. Lying prostrate in Liu'an, I often think of Bian Que's inquiries; quietly resting within four walls, my thoughts are cut off from the incense of the cultivated capital. How could I expect Mañjuśrī's arrival? I merely think of the eloquence of the guest from Wu. Just then, our Emperor's compassion covered the whole realm, and amṛta was proclaimed. The silver drum was sounded at the treasured monastery, and the golden wheel was turned on the fragrant earth. The Dharma thunder startled dreams, and the wisdom sun illuminated the morning. Monastics and laity converged like spokes, gathering from far and near. The audience of lay and ordained numbered some twenty or thirty thousand a day. Yet I alone, obstructed by illness, was prevented from hearing the Dharma. How could this merely be Yang Pu's sorrow beyond the passes, or the regret of delay in Zhounan? On the thirteenth day, I only then attended the Dharma banquet. That is why when Junzhang recently returned, I was unable to hold a brush. Jingzu advanced earlier, barely able to bear his clothes. Whenever I reflect on this, I am afflicted and lose my bearings. The River is so long; waking and sleeping, I long for you. Every time I receive my brother's letter, my minor ailments are dispelled. There will soon be another messenger; here I have nothing more to express.