法苑珠林 17.5

17.5

During the Daming era of the Song, there was a monastic director, Dharma Master Daowen, who resided in Moling county. Having observed the Empress Dowager—whose profound insight was tranquil and bright, whose sagacious tokens secretly resonated, and who cleansed her thoughts in the pure sanctuary to delve into the ultimate realm, her fame and elegance shaking the realm and her spiritual deeds transcending the cosmos—he thereupon conceived the design to cast and sculpt an image displaying divine splendor, modeling a magnificent statue of Samantabhadra coming in procession. It exhausted worldly treasures and thoroughly perfected celestial adornments. When the lecture and vegetarian feast he provided were concluded, on the eighth day of this month, the donations were restricted to an assembly whose register of names had been fixed in advance, and they were led to their seats without any increase or decrease in number. As the chanting of the sūtra was half done and the sun reached its noon peak, an extraordinary monk was suddenly seen sitting among the seats. His deportment was dignified and serene, and his presence was outstanding and refined. The entire assembly stared, but none recognized him. The host of the feast asked, 'What is the master's name?' He replied, 'My name is Huiming.' He asked which temple he lived in, and the monk replied, 'I come from Tian'an.' In the space between these words, he abruptly vanished. The entire hall was struck with astonishment, and the whole assembly fell into solemn contemplation. They considered it an illumination of auspicious omens and the revelation of an unseen response: the Purple Mountain could be seen, and the Flower Terrace was not far away. Indeed, we have heard that when utmost sincerity evokes a response, the sun's course turns back and the planetary coordinates shift; when a purified mind is dedicated, stones open and springs gush forth. How much more so when imperial virtue encompasses all operations and august merit fully harmonizes, benevolence penetrating the remote heavens and universal principle pervading the unseen realms! Thus, when noble kings and flourishing scholars make their mark in the era of Daming, inspiring the wondrous body [of the bodhisattva] to appear in person before the chamber of the dragon's flight, the meaning seems to be: Your Majesty's candle of wisdom illumines the four seas, and your brilliance equals the sun and moon; hence he used 'Huiming' (Wisdom-Brightness) as his personal name. Succeeding Heaven in establishing prosperity to bequeath infinite blessings; hence he used 'Tian'an' (Heavenly Peace) as the temple's name. The divine foundation grows ever more distant, and the rule of the Way becomes solidified; the nine regions recognize peace, and all myriad creatures rejoice together. He respectfully submitted this report to the county administration to expound upon the heavenly blessing.