集神州三寶感通錄 2.20

2.20

Sixteenth, Mengxun, King of Hexi of the Northern Liang, made a sixteen-foot stone image in a mountain temple for his mother, which he had always held in reverence. In the sixth year of the Yuanjia reign era of the Song, he sent the heir apparent Xingguo to attack Baohan, where he suffered a great defeat, and Xingguo subsequently died. Mengxun was deeply resentful toward the Buddha, believing that serving the Buddha brought no divine efficacy; he issued an order to demolish stūpas and temples and expel monks. Later, as Mengxun was traveling to Mount Yangshu, several monks waited by the roadside; seeing them from afar, he flew into a rage and immediately beheaded several of them. At that time, generals and soldiers entered the temple to worship this image; tears streamed across its face. In astonishment they returned and reported it; hearing of this, Mengxun went to look. Arriving at the temple gate, his whole body trembled with fright, as if seized by someone, whereupon he called to his attendants to support him forward. Seeing the image's tears flowing down like a spring, he immediately prostrated himself in homage and apology, deeply blaming himself. He then held a great assembly, showing redoubled devotion, and summoned the monks back to resume their original vocation. Observing Mengxun's faith, it was neither deep nor clear: he took things by attack and murder, so how could it not be prohibited by the Buddha? By nature, he prioritized reform and change, giving free rein to his evil desires—who knows what evils he would not commit? At first, he esteemed Dharmakṣema to translate the *Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra*, wishing to share life and death with him; later, over a slight grievance, he sent assassins to murder him. Now, meeting with misfortune on a military campaign, he blamed the Buddhist monks, razing temples and executing sangha members—how tyrannical and excessive! Although he later restored them, it could not make up for his transgressions. Now, thirty li southeast of Shazhou, on Mount Sanwei (the place to which the Four Perils were banished), the cliff is two li high, with two hundred and eighty Buddha images, whose cave shrines frequently emit light and auspicious marks, it is said.