法苑珠林 79.41

79.41

Śramaṇa Huiyun of Dongchuan in the Sui was a native of Fanyang. He went forth from home at twelve, dedicating himself to travelling and listening to teachings. When he reached the age of eighteen, he rode a donkey and stayed at his uncle's house. His uncle saw that his donkey was swift and plotted to kill him. Just as he went with a knife in hand, he saw a man in yellow robes beneath the eastern wall, raising his fist and rebuking him: 'This man of the Way is about to become a great master who thoroughly penetrates the Dharma. How can you bear to try to harm him?' Terrified, the uncle told his wife. The wife said, 'You lack resolve, and your eyes are merely playing tricks on you.' After hearing this, he went again, and once more beneath the western wall saw a man in yellow robes say, 'Do not kill this man of the Way! If you kill him, great calamity will befall you.' Frightened, the uncle stopped. The next morning, [Huiyun] took his leave to go to his elder sister's home. The uncle again took a knife and escorted him, telling Yun, 'This road is secluded and perilous; therefore I am escorting the master through the danger.' Yun walked ahead; right in the midst of a deep and rugged defile, the uncle was behind him brandishing the blade to strike, when suddenly he saw the brother-in-law nearby, and [Yun] was thus saved from harm. Yun was entirely unaware of it. Later, Yun's learning and moral virtue became lofty and far-reaching. During the Kaihuang era, he led five hundred disciples and passed by his uncle's house. Seeing his widespread conversion of beings, [the uncle] was deeply ashamed of his past misdeeds; he offered ten bolts of silk, and husband and wife confessed openly. Only then did Yun learn of it; he then expounded the Dharma for them to forever sever their poisonous intent. He would often use this incident to admonish his disciples, saying, 'In the past, had I not ridden a fine mount, how would it have burdened another person?' From then on, hearing this, his disciples became frugal and plain. He enjoyed great renown. The year of his death is unknown.