法苑珠林 27.52

27.52

宋慧和沙門者。京師眾造寺僧也。宋義嘉之難。和猶為白衣。疑劉胡部下。胡嘗遣將士數十人。值諜東下。和亦預行。行至鵲渚而值臺軍西上。諜眾離散各逃草澤。和得竄下。至新林外會見野老衣服縷弊。和乃以貌整袴褶易其衣。提籃負擔若類田人。時諸游軍捕此散諜。視和形色疑而問之。和答對謬略。因被笞掠。登將見斬和自散走。便常誦念觀世音經。至將斬時祈懇彌篤。既而軍人揮刃屢跌。三舉三折。並驚而釋之。和於是出家遂成精業。

The monk Huihe of the Song was a monk of Zhongzao Temple in the capital. During the rebellion of Yijia in the Song, He was still a layman and was suspected of being under Liu Hu's command. Hu once dispatched dozens of officers and soldiers, and encountering scouts moving east, He also went along with them. When they reached Quezhu, they encountered the imperial army advancing west. The scouts scattered, each fleeing into the marshes. He managed to flee downriver, and outside Xinlin he met an old rustic whose clothes were tattered and torn. He exchanged his neat tunic and trousers for the old man's clothes, carrying a basket and shoulder pole like a farmer. At that time, mobile detachments were capturing these scattered scouts; seeing He's appearance and demeanor, they grew suspicious and interrogated him. He's replies were disjointed and evasive, and he was beaten and scourged. When he was about to be beheaded—since he had fled from the dispersal—he had constantly recited the *Avalokiteśvara Sūtra*, and when about to be executed, his prayers grew even more fervent. Then, as the soldier swung the blade, it repeatedly slipped; raised three times, it broke three times. Startled, they released him. He thereupon went forth into the monastic life and achieved diligent practice.