續集古今佛道論衡 1.28

1.28

The Emperor said, 'Do not bring disgrace upon yourselves. I fear that your firefly's light falsely rivals the brilliance of the sun and moon, and a pellet of clay improperly prices itself against the pearl of the Marquis of Sui; they are truly not of the same kind. If you wish to compete, since you do not believe, you may assemble at the Baima Temple at dawn on the fifteenth day of this month to compare with them.' The Daoist masters, having received the imperial permission, left with joy. The Daoist masters gathered crowds in the capital: some walked on the waters of the Luo River without sinking; some piled firewood in gardens and burned themselves without suffering harm; some performed various incantations and summoned ghosts and spirits in the markets and lanes of the capital. The onlookers in the capital all called them great sages. On the eleventh day of the first month, the Emperor visited Baima Temple. Arriving before the Buddha Hall, he burned incense, circumambulated, and made prostrations. He then asked the two Dharma Masters, bowing his head and recounting in full the powers of the Daoist masters from the mountains: 'They wish to come and compete with you masters. Your disciple rashly, without measuring himself, gave verbal permission, fixing the fifteenth day of this month for a great assembly at Baima Temple. I pray the masters show grace and reveal the medicine of the Dharma.' Dharma Master [Kāśyapa] Mātaṅga replied, 'Over a thousand years have passed since the Tathāgata entered extinction. The True Teaching flows eastward, and the Dharma is not established in vain. The Daoists' wish to compete comes precisely at the right time. Although this poor monk wears the black robes, my precepts and conduct are of no merit; now, relying on the majestic power of the True Dharma and all the Buddhas, I shall bring them to awakening.'