大唐貞元續開元釋教錄 1.7.4

1.7.4

[When thunder sounds in the springtime, what hopes for warmth] are insects; when rain and dew descend from the nine heavens, what longs for moisture are the grasses and trees. As it is said, when heaven and earth cover and support without interruption, nurturing without partiality, then gnats can frolic in the great wind, and frogs and flies can swim in the boundless sea. Humbly we reflect:
Your Imperial Majesty the Baoying Yuansheng Wenwu Emperor, your auspicious blessings continue across dusty kalpas, and your faith is planted as numerously as the sands of the Ganges. Your majesty awes the realm of Māra, and your fame flows through the buddha-lands. With the gravity of the precious throne, you exalt the subtleties of the precious verses; with the dignity of the golden wheel, you give flight to the teachings from the golden mouth. How could the hundreds of kings and thousands of emperors be spoken of in the same breath? Chengru and the others have had the good fortune to meet this prosperous era and unworthily reside within the mystic gate. We constantly think of reciting and chanting [scriptures] to repay the imperial favor. Humbly we have received word that there was recently an imperial decree requesting Tripiṭaka Master Amoghavajra, doctrinal śramaṇas, and others to retranslate the Humane Kings Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra. Both its teachings and principles are prominent; its essence and characteristics are fully complete. Sealed away in the dragon palace, it has not yet been promulgated in the deer park. The monks and others, braving death, venture to submit this request: We humbly pray that your heavenly compassion will display this Dharma treasure, and moreover, wishing to follow the sūtra, we request that one hundred Dharma masters be invited and one hundred high seats be set up, together to proclaim its phrases and meanings and jointly extinguish the baleful vapors. Such is our foolish sincerity; the decision rests solely with the sage's will. Incapable of enduring our extreme yearning and eager thirst, we respectfully proceed to the Right Yintai Gate to present this memorial stating our request. Rashly braving the heavenly majesty, we prostrate ourselves in profound trembling and trepidation. Respectfully spoken.
Memorial submitted on the eighth day of the eighth month of the first year of Yongtai by the Sthavira of the Great Anguo Temple, Platform-Attending Bhadanta Śramaṇa Chengru and others.
The Imperial Rescript of the Baoying Yuansheng Wenwu Emperor in reply stated:
"The true scripture of the Humane Kings has refined principles and profound meanings. Its edification flows through the Wise Kalpa, and its blessings and benefits enrich the common people. Since you masters all wish to expound it to assist in bringing peace to the state, the request to open the lectures is granted according to your petition." There was an imperial decree selecting the twenty-third day to set up a total of one hundred seats at the two temples of Zisheng and Ximing, inviting one hundred Dharma masters to lecture on the Humane Kings Sūtra and one hundred bhadantas to recite the Ghanavyūha and other scriptures. The incense, flowers, food, drinks, drums, music, and singing were all to be provided by the responsible officials and were not to be lacking.
At the time, autumn rains fell in torrents without ceasing, so the responsible officials memorialized requesting an extension of the date. An imperial decree was received concerning the hundred seats at the two temples: "It was previously ordered that the scriptures be welcomed on the twenty-third day; because of the soaking rain, it is appropriate to change this to the twenty-sixth day to welcome the scriptures and open the lectures. The provisions from the various offices should be coordinated through designated personnel and prepared in accordance with the changed date." On the twenty-second day of the eighth month of the first year of Yongtai, General of the Left Gate-Guarding Guard and Manager of the Bureau Liu Qingtan proclaimed [this order]. But when the new date arrived, the rains had not yet cleared, so an imperial decree extended it further to the first day of the ninth month. On that day, the bhadantas of the two sectors made ready immaculate banners, flowers, canopies, and jeweled carriages; the music of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, the Palace Pear Garden Troupe, and the two entertainment bureaus proceeded to the Yintai Gate, where myriad spectacles were performed in abundance. At that time, Commissioner of Military Inspection, Disposer of Troops and Horses for the Shence Army, Specially Advanced Equal in Rank to the Three Excellencies, Senior General of the Left Gate-Guarding Guard, Director of the Palace Domestic Service, Commissioner of the Inner Flying Dragon Stables, Bows, and Arrows, Pillar of State, and State-Founding Duke of the Pingyi Commandery Yu Chaoen, along with the commissioners of the Six Armies, formed ranks; the devas, nāgas, and the rest of the eight classes of ghosts and spirits escorted the new scripture out from the Great Interior. Just as the scripture emerged, varicolored clouds floated in the sky, luxuriant and abundant, visibly displaying an extraordinary auspicious omen. When it reached the hour of the horse, the two temples opened the sūtra, the ten thousand people rejoiced in their hearts, and the auspicious clouds then vanished; clergy and laity gazed upward, receiving uncommon bliss. Tripiṭaka Master Amoghavajra submitted a memorial expressing gratitude, which read: "Śramaṇa Amoghavajra speaks: Amoghavajra’s virtue falls short of former cultivators, and my learning is inferior to past sages. Yet I have undeservedly received the imperial decree to translate the true scripture. It is as if treading on spring ice, or standing beside a deep abyss. Humbly I reflect: Your Majesty has brushed open the sun of wisdom and spread the shade of the compassionate cloud. Your sagacious thoughts soar like the wind, and your dragon-like script is lustrous as jade. You personally composed the preface and exposition, illuminating the great chiliocosm. You shower the Dharma rain from the nine heavens and plant superior banners upon the hundred seats. Your dignified comportment and bearing are just as when Śākya descended Vulture Peak; the scholars and commoners crowding together resemble Prasenajit visiting Rājagṛha. The propitious clouds present auspicious omens, and joyful vapors float in the sky, fully demonstrating the pacification of the realm and naturally coalescing boundless blessings. Unable to bear my extreme gratitude, I respectfully submit this memorial to present my congratulations. Śramaṇa Amoghavajra speaks with true joy and true delight."
Memorial submitted on the second day of the ninth month of the first year of Yongtai by Tripiṭaka Śramaṇa Amoghavajra of the Great Daxingshan Temple.
The Baoying Yuansheng Wenwu Emperor replied:
"You, Master, came from afar from the lotus palace and personally sealed the palm-leaf manuscripts. Expounding the mystic teaching to benefit and save the common folk, once the translation was completed, devas and humans gathered in harmony. The clear sky of the three autumn months brightened, and auspicious five-colored clouds unfurled. You have expounded the true vehicle, harmonizing with the subtle principle. Long ago, through your instructions, a master-disciple relationship was established; seeing this miraculous resonance, my reverent devotion deepens all the more."
At that time, the commissioners of the Left and Right Six Armies, seeing these auspicious clouds, also submitted a memorial offering congratulations. The wording read: "Your servant Xianzhi and others speak: Yesterday, upon welcoming the newly translated Humane Kings Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra for Protecting the Country, auspicious clouds manifested in response, presenting omens in five colors and scattering across the entire sky. Enfolding the sun of wisdom they grew ever more radiant, following the auspicious wind they heralded a sage. Humbly we reflect: Your Majesty relies on the Great Way for all things and approaches the state with supreme virtue. Your refined sincerity moves the spiritual powers, and spiritual responses descend accordingly. Your servants undeservedly hold posts in the imperial guard and have long been steeped in your pure edification; personally witnessing these auspicious signs, we are exceedingly fortunate and overjoyed. Respectfully proceeding to the Right Yintai Gate, we submit this memorial to present our congratulations. Your servant Xianzhi and others, with true dread and true fear, kowtow, kowtow, and respectfully speak."
Memorial submitted on the second day of the ninth month of the first year of Yongtai by Specially Advanced, Senior General of the Right Longwu Army, Director of Military Affairs, Pillar of State, and Duke of Xu State, your servant Liu Xianzhi, and others.
The Baoying Yuansheng Wenwu Emperor replied:
"The secret treasury was transmitted early to the non-dual gate; restating its meanings, we hope to broaden its teachings. About to unfurl the texts of the palm leaves, we hereby opened the assembly of the lotus palace. The sky floated with auspicious colors, and the sun shone on propitious clouds, manifesting spiritual powers and revealing auspicious omens of peaceful harmony, a joyous comfort shared by all. Your congratulations are noted." From this first day until the end of the bright half of the month, the sūtra was lectured upon in both locations and the practice of the Way was performed during the two periods. Food, drinks, tea, and medicine were all supplied by the responsible offices, and the six pitches and five notes did not cease day or night. On the sixteenth day, Ximing Temple concluded the purification retreat; drums, music, singing, and myriad spectacles filled the day. When the lectures at Ximing concluded, a memorial was submitted offering congratulations, which read: "Sthavira of Ximing Temple, Śramaṇa Huaigan and others speak: Having specially received the imperial mandate to open the hundred seats and lecture on the Humane Kings Prajñā Sūtra for Protecting the Country, with the scripture cycle completed and the celebratory vegetarian feast concluded today, all living beings are clapping hands and dancing with boundless joy. Humbly we reflect that Your Majesty has recreated heaven and earth, your brightness matching the sun and moon. In the leisure of letting your robes hang loose, you retranslated the true scripture. The sage's mind and the Buddha's mind return to the same principle; the Chinese language and the Sanskrit speech are not separated by different lands. The verses strung like flowers are heard in full, and the monks transmitting the lamp can be seen. Within the boundaries of the golden cords, Maitreya descends to be born; inside the Jade Capital, the Wheel-Turning King appears. In the lovely scenery of autumn skies, the crops are soon to be harvested; varicolored clouds float in the sky, and baleful vapors must [surely be dispelled...]