破邪論 1.33

1.33

Emperor Ming of the Wei once wished to demolish the stupa to the west of the palace. A foreign śramaṇa then filled a golden dish with water, placed it before the palace hall, and dropped a śarīra into the water. Thereupon five-colored light arose. The Emperor was increasingly astonished in praise, and so constructed a surrounding enclosure of a hundred bays east of the road to serve as a monastery. In the first year of the Tianxing era of Taizu of the Yuan-Wei, an edict was issued saying: 'Now the arising of the Buddhist Dharma has come from afar indeed! Its merit of succor and benefit reaches secretly to the living and the departed. Its divine traces and bequeathed models may truly be relied upon.' An order was issued to construct and adorn representations and repair palace dwellings in the capital, so that faithful followers would have a place to reside. In this year, a five-story stupa, Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa, and Mount Sumeru halls were first built and decorated with paintings; in addition, a lecture hall, meditation chambers, and sitting places for śramaṇas were constructed, none of which were lacking. Examining historical records and comprehensive Ru scholars, all praise the Buddhist Dharma as entirely good and entirely beautiful. On what grounds do those of wrong views invite upon themselves the crime of rebellion? When Shizu of the Wei ascended the throne, he likewise complied with the enterprise of Taizu and Taizong. Whenever he invited śramaṇas of lofty virtue, he conversed with them. On the eighth day of the fourth month, he carried various Buddha images in procession along the wide avenues. The Emperor personally climbed the gate-tower, scattering flowers in homage and respect. The śramaṇa Huishi was exceedingly wondrous and divine. When Helian Chang was defeated at Chang'an, Huishi was struck by naked blades on his body yet his form was not harmed. For over fifty years he never lay down to sleep. Walking barefoot in mud and mire, he never soiled his feet, and their complexion was all the more freshly white. The world called him the White-Footed Āraṇyaka. The sovereign of that time respected him and greatly caused the Buddhist Dharma to flourish. When he died, his body remained solemn and unchanged for over ten years.