諸經要集 5.54

5.54

Ever since the Great Awakened One entered nirvāṇa, the Dharma has been entrusted to the community of holy ones. Bodhisattvas (mahāsattva) and arhats have expounded and propagated the teachings of the latter age, flying and transforming across many realms, gathering and guiding beings according to conditions. When perspectives differ, though in the same room they are separated as by heaven; when there is a sympathetic resonance, across different realms their faces meet. At the end of the Taishe era of the Song dynasty, the monk Fayuan of Zhengsheng Monastery and the monk Fajing of Zhengxi Monastery and others first painted images of the holy monks, depicting them seated apart as models. Down to the beginning of the Tang dynasty, miraculous auspicious signs descended repeatedly: at times toes were exposed, half-visible between couches; at times staff marks and footprints were pressed deep into the level ground. Therefore, the Liang emperor, hearing of this, rejoiced and praised it, his respectful mind looking up in devotion. When auspicious responses occurred in the state and family, he unfailingly prayed and held fasting-feasts. In the eighth year of the Yongming era, the emperor was personally unwell; though Bian Que and Hua Tuo offered their skills, he remained bedridden on his mats and pillows. He then set his mind and made a vow, taking refuge in the holy monks. He decreed that within the Yanchang Hall, prayers and entreaties be made for seven days, offering food to all the Buddhas and the community of holy and worthy ones. The fasting chamber was solemn and strict, not even light dust stirring. As the seven days were nearly complete, the spiritual response was felt: a divine fragrance and wondrous aroma penetrated the nose and pierced the heart, outshining the censer so that it held no more fragrant power. Furthermore, shadows of feet and sandal prints filled the hall; the ringing of monk's staffs sounded clear and melodious, their echoes arising beyond the windows. Seeing the traces and smelling the fragrance, all were solemn and thrilled to their souls. At that time, Xu Guangxian and more than ten others all saw and heard it together, and immediately presented a memorial. Thereupon, as the fasting assembly concluded, the imperial health was restored. Therefore the whole court took refuge in these clear proofs and spiritual responses. Thereafter, Xu Guangxian and several others, monastics and laypeople, established fasts and made invocations, and all received auspicious signs. The spiritual resonance of the holy ones cannot be fully recorded.