廣弘明集 17.72

17.72

The memorial from Anzhou stated: A temple was memorialized to enshrine and receive the relics. Dharma Master Jingye together with the prefectural officials surveyed the foundation. At the hour of the Monkey [3:00–5:00 p.m.], there suddenly came a fragrance, swirling and wafting through the air, subtle and aromatic as had never existed in the world. Clergy and laity were all astonished, following it to the place; the fragrance was everywhere, dispersing entirely only at the fifth watch [3:00–5:00 a.m.]. Furthermore, on the eighth day of the fourth month, when the days of circumambulation were complete, a great vegetarian feast was provided. At noon, when they were about to lower the relics, there were more than ten thousand clergy and laity. The Dharma Master ascended the high seat, holding the relics in his hands to show the great assembly; everyone was moved with grief and joy, unable to contain themselves. Immediately, a red colour issued from the mouth of the bottle in the master's hand, and then emitted light twice, one foot high. Moreover, as the stone casket was lowered, there was suddenly a white cloud, round like a parasol, directly above the casket, turning clockwise several times; having circled, it vanished back into the place from which it had originally emerged. Furthermore, south of the pagoda there had formerly been a Buddha pavilion, which was locked at the time, and the bodhimaṇḍa for the relics was set up beneath it, with two guards sent to watch over it. Suddenly they heard the sound of a crowd of people walking atop the pavilion; looking at the pavilion door, it was still locked. In a short while, hearing the walking sounds again, they ran to report it; the abbot came together with them, opening the pavilion door and going up to inspect it: there were only Buddha images, and nothing else at all was to be seen. Furthermore, on the day when the lowering of the relics was completed, by the hour of the Monkey [3:00–5:00 p.m.], there were Dharma Master Jingfan and the dhūta monk Jingtao behind the relic pagoda, near the waterside crag, conferring the bodhisattva precepts upon clergy and laity. The crowd saw shoals of fish swimming in formation, their heads all facing south as if desiring to take refuge, numbering more than ten thousand. They requested the two Chan masters to board a boat and enter the water to confer the precepts upon the fish. Thereupon the fish within all turned their heads toward the boat, following and patrolling around it as if listening to the Dharma.