法苑珠林 18.18

18.18

宋釋慧嚴。京師東安寺僧也。理思諧暢見器道俗。甞嫌大涅槃經文字繁多。遂加刊削就成數卷。寫兩三通以示同好。因寢寤之際忽見一人。身長二丈餘。形氣偉壯。謂之曰。涅槃尊經眾藏之宗。何得以君璅思輕加斟酌。嚴悵然不釋。猶以發意。苟覓多知明夕將臥。復見昨人甚有怒色。謂曰。過而知改是謂非過。昨故相告猶不已乎。此經既無行理。且君禍亦將及。嚴驚覺失厝未及申旦。便馳信求還悉燒除之。塵外精舍釋道儼。具所諳聞。

In the Song, the monk Huiyan was a monk of Dong'an Temple in the capital. His theoretical thinking was harmonious and unimpeded, and he was regarded as a vessel of talent by clergy and laity alike. He once disliked that the Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra had too many words, and so he edited and excised it, making it into a few scrolls. He copied two or three sets to show to like-minded friends. While half-asleep, he suddenly saw a person over two zhang tall, of magnificent and imposing bearing, who said to him: "The noble Nirvāṇa Sūtra is the sovereign of all canonical collections! How can you use your petty thoughts to carelessly weigh and cut it?" Yan felt despondent and troubled, yet still held to his original intent, stubbornly seeking extensive knowledge. The following evening, as he was about to lie down, he saw the person from the previous day again, looking extremely angry, who said to him: "'To err and know to reform—this is called having no error.' I purposefully informed you yesterday, yet you still have not stopped? Not only does this sūtra [of yours] lack correct principle, but disaster will also soon reach you!" Yan awoke with a start, losing his composure. Before dawn broke, he dispatched a messenger to retrieve all copies and burn them completely. The monk Daoyan of Chenwai Hermitage heard the full account.