法苑珠林 24.62

24.62

元魏時有中天竺沙門勒那。魏云實意。是西國人。不知氏族。遍通三藏妙入總持。以魏永平之初來游東夏。宣武皇帝每請講華嚴經。披閱精勤毋廢一日。正處高座。忽有一人持笏執名者。形如大官。云奉天帝命來請法師講華嚴經。意曰。今此法席尚未停止。待訖經文當來從命。雖然法事所資獨不能建。都講香火維那梵唄。咸皆須之。可請令定。使者如所請。見講諸僧。既而法事將了。又見前使云。奉天帝命故來下迎。意乃含笑熙怡告眾辭訣。奄然卒於法座。都講四人亦同時殞。魏境道俗聞見斯異無不嗟嘆。

Under the Northern Wei, there was a śramaṇa from Central India named Ratnamati, whose name was translated into the Wei language as Shiyi. He was a person of the Western regions, whose clan is unknown. He was thoroughly versed in the tripiṭaka and had profoundly entered dhāraṇī. In the beginning of the Yongping era of the Wei, he came to travel in China. Emperor Xuanwu frequently invited him to lecture on the *Avataṃsaka Sūtra*; he read and examined it diligently, never omitting a single day. While seated on the high seat, suddenly a man holding a tablet and carrying a roll of names appeared, shaped like a high official, who said: 'Commissioned by the Heavenly Emperor, I have come to invite the Dharma master to lecture on the *Avataṃsaka Sūtra*.' Shiyi said, 'This Dharma session has not yet concluded. When the text of the sūtra is finished, I will comply with your command. Even so, the requisites for a Dharma service cannot be established by one alone: the chief lecturer, the incense tender, the karmadāna, and the chanter of hymns are all required. You may invite them and fix the arrangement.' The messenger did as requested and went to see the various monks of the lecture. Soon after, when the Dharma service was about to finish, the previous messenger appeared again, saying, 'Commissioned by the Heavenly Emperor, I have come down to welcome you.' Shiyi, smiling serenely, took leave of the assembly, and abruptly passed away upon the Dharma seat. The four chief lecturers also perished at the same time. When the clergy and laity of the Wei realm heard and witnessed this anomaly, none failed to marvel and sigh.