法苑珠林 79.45

79.45

Yao Mingjie of the Tang was originally a śramaṇa of Puguang Temple. By nature intelligent and gifted in literary composition, he was skilled in calligraphy and good at painting; as for playing the zither, he was uniquely peerless in his time. Always taking pleasure in worldly snares, he found no joy in the religious gate. In the first year of the Longshuo era, he was recommended among those responding to an imperial decree, and personally went to Luoyang. When he passed the examination and returned to lay life, he had rather excessive remarks. Not long after, he died. Later, he appeared in a dream to Zhi Zheng, a monk of Jingtu Temple who was an acquaintance of his, saying, "Mingjie had no past meritorious karma and did not comply with the inner teaching. Now I suffer great punishment and am extraordinarily famished and exhausted. If there remains any sentiment of an old friend, would you be able to grant me a meal?" Zhi Zheng promised him in the dream, and upon waking, prepared an offering of food for him. When night fell and he had barely slept, he saw Mingjie come to thank him with shame. In the autumn of the second year, he also appeared in a dream to a painter, saying, "Because I did not believe in the Buddha-Dharma, I now suffer great pain. Strive on my behalf to copy two or three scrolls of sūtras." Grasping his hands earnestly, he composed a poem to bid farewell, and instructed the painter to read it eighteen times so that he would remember it. Upon waking, he recalled it. The poem ran: / "Clasping hands, I cannot bear to part; / Stroking my breast, I grieve for myself once more. / How painful that the worldly light was short; / How sorrowful that the path to the springs is long! / The pine grove is startled by the wild wind; / Upon the desolate mound falls cold frost. / Speaking of departure, what shall I give you? / Set your mind upon the inner scriptures."