大唐貞元續開元釋教錄 1.7.7

1.7.7

[…] cultivate and maintain the myriad practices, and constantly demonstrate extinction through transformation. He holds fast to the Vinaya and casts off fetters, safeguarding the precepts as his comportment. Continuing the resolve to clarify the good teachings, he came in response to the invitation of the sovereign of men. Formerly in the preceding court, We heard early on the essentials of the Way; and when entrusted with the transmission, he was ever Our refuge. Whenever scriptures were held in the inner palace, he expounded the Dharma before Our seat. Leaning on the armrest was just like the rites of the imperial academy; catching his breeze was akin to the inquiries at Mount Kongtong. His wondrous voice comprehensively unfolded the teachings, while esoteric practices were preserved within. Waiting to be struck, as soon as he spoke, from every margin all were awakened. He cleansed away darkness and delusion, and subdued the demonic foes. Gods and humans cleansed their minds at the gate of deliverance; dragons and spirits received duties beneath the divine seal. Surely thereby calamities and baneful influences were dispelled, and blessings brought forth auspiciousness. Truly, it was he who magnified Us so greatly; how could it merely be an advantage to Ourselves? Previously, titles were conferred to express courteous respect; yet taking him as Our master was Our glory, and savoring the Way grew ever deeper. Thinking to force a name once more, We again clarify Our former intention. Now, the marvelous realm possesses adorned lands; the inner ranks possess distinctions of the fruition grounds. Rooted in esteeming virtue and respectfully following the rites of the times, he may be made Specially Promoted, Acting Master of the Court of Imperial Entertainments, and Palace Grandee (Kaifu Yitong Sansi), and be enfeoffed as the Duke of the State of Su, with a fief of three thousand households; the rest as before. Eleventh day of the sixth month of the ninth year of Dali [774 CE].

Although the Tripiṭaka Upādhyāya again received imperial grace and honors with additional official titles and fiefs, his physical strength grew steadily weaker, and there was no way he could be granted an audience. On the fifteenth day, he drafted a memorial of farewell. The text read: The śramaṇa Amoghavajra states: Amoghavajra in his youth served his late teacher for more than two decades, and has enjoyed imperial favor early on for more than thirty years. Expounding the Dharma-gate of Yoga, he received the gracious regard of successive sagacious rulers. Ever since Your Majesty ascended the throne, exceptional favoritism has deepened further: granting the yellow pavilion for leisure dwelling, and descending from the purple court to inquire into the Way. Accumulated favors piled high, succeeding one another day and night; even with utmost sincerity, how could one repay a ten-thousandth? Yet dew and lightning are hard to detain, and the bulrush and willow easily wither. Once taking to my pillow, from spring until summer Your Majesty showed profound care, inquiring after me repeatedly, with inner court messengers and renowned physicians looking at one another along the roads. But with this incurable disease, though there be needles and medicine, survival is difficult. The resources of arising and ceasing—how could one cling to and cherish them so as to make them endure? Suddenly since last night, I feel my strength abruptly fail, my body no longer my own; in a fleeting instant I gasp for breath, and my mind and spirit gradually dim. Bidding farewell to the sacred court, I cannot bear the longing. Now, Amoghavajra is past the age of middle longevity, so it is not a premature death. Only, in former days I crossed the southern seas and travelled throughout the Five Indies, seeking what was unheard and practicing what was not understood. The one hundred thousand verses of the Vajraśekhara Yoga that I obtained, together with various dhāraṇīs, sūtras, and treatises, amounting to over five hundred thousand verses—I had hoped to translate them all to repay a fraction of the nation's kindness. Why is it that my lifelong aspiration is not yet fulfilled, while my lifespan has suddenly reached its end? This is what Amoghavajra laments.

I prostrate myself to Your Majesty to lower the loving-kindness and wisdom of the Buddhas, and deign to comply with the wishes of men. Amoghavajra previously presented the Sūtra on the Merits and Adornments of the Buddhakṣetra of the Great Sage Mañjuśrī; Your Sagacious Sentiment promptly permitted it to be promulgated within and outside [the court]. I humbly pray that, taking pity and mindful of these dying words, you will pray for blessings upon the imperial household, multiplying auspiciousness for ten thousand kalpas; truly this will be a monk's glory in life and death. The five-pronged vajra bell and pestle transmitted by my late master, together with a silver platter, bodhi-seed and crystal rosaries, and a case, are all respectfully presented along with this memorial. Facing the paper with weeping, sorrowful tears intermingling, I bid eternal farewell to the sacred era, unable to bear the extremity of my attachment. Respectfully entrusted to the supervisor commissioner Li Xiancheng to present this memorial expressing my farewell for Your hearing. The śramaṇa Amoghavajra with sincere sorrow and sincere longing respectfully states: On the fifteenth day of the sixth month of the ninth year of Dali, the Tripiṭaka Śramaṇa Amoghavajra, Great Broad Wisdom, Kaifu Yitong Sansi, Duke of the State of Su, presents this memorial.

The Sagacious, Martial, Civil, and Divine Emperor Baoying replied:
The Upādhyāya has ascended through practice to the Ten Grounds, arriving here from the Five Indies, expounding Yoga and circulating Sanskrit folios. He travelled tens of thousands of li and lived through three reigns, brilliantly translating the sacred words and personally receiving the lineage transmission from his master. At the flourishing era of Our dynasty, he continued the transmission of fire from former firewood. Yet, broadening the bodhisattva mind, he falls ill on behalf of sentient beings. Hearing of his lingering illness, Our shock and grief deepen. It is proper to grant what was requested.

At that time, after the Tripiṭaka Upādhyāya Amoghavajra, Great Broad Wisdom, Kaifu Yitong Sansi, Probationary Chamberlain for the Court of Dependencies, Duke of the State of Su, submitted his memorial expressing his feelings, the imperial grace shed tears. An ink edict was immediately issued granting all his requests. His sentiments and proprieties having been conveyed, the Upādhyāya focused single-mindedly on contemplative practice. Lying on his right side with feet crossed, he serenely passed away. His disciples wailed and leapt about. An inner court messenger reported it, and the Emperor was profoundly shocked and grieved, suspending the court for three days. Thereupon an inner messenger was dispatched to the monastery to comfort the assembly of disciples and bestow condolence gifts: three hundred bolts of silk, three hundred lengths of cloth, five carts each of white rice and non-glutinous rice, five carts of white flour, ten carts of firewood, seven dan of oil, and three carts of charcoal; all to be claimed from the capital, and if unavailable, to report so that alternative provisions could be dispatched. On the twenty-eighth day of that month, an edict was issued to the palace attendant Wei Shouzhong to deliver seven hundred and fifty-two bolts of silk to cover the cost of constructing a stupa for the late teacher. Then on the fifth day of the tenth month, he was posthumously granted the title of Minister of Works (Sikong). The imperial favor being exceedingly deep, he was further bestowed a posthumous title, the edict reading:

“Extinction in quiescence is bliss: by this one returns to truth. Entrusting to those with affinity: by this one honors his name. Following precedent, one might force a name. The late Tripiṭaka Amoghavajra, Great Broad Wisdom, of Daxingshan Temple, Kaifu Yitong Sansi, Probationary Chamberlain for the Court of Dependencies, Duke of the State of Su, was abundant in virtue and lofty in the Way, one whom We revered as master. His mind was the esoteric seal of Dharma; his conduct surpassed the gate of deliverance. His subtle teachings were profound, his magnanimity formless. The moisture of a single rain universally soaked the multitude of living beings; the transmission of a hundred lamps illumined everywhere the right enlightenment. Broadly penetrating doctrinal import, he was deeply conversant with Confucian and esoteric learning. His sagacious sentiments accorded with Us like two halves of a tally. For many years We caught his breeze before Our seat. The compassionate boat does not linger; the roof-beam is broken. His fine voice forever separated from us, Our shock and grief are exceedingly deep. Let this official of statecraft retrospectively receive the rites of a master, and be granted an additional posthumous title to match reality to the name. He may be posthumously granted the title of Minister of Works (Sikong), and posthumously named Tripiṭaka Upādhyāya Amoghavajra, Great Eloquent and Correct, Broad Wisdom.”

Then on the sixth day, guimao, funeral rites were arranged. His spirit was moved south of the city for cremation and offerings. The Emperor dispatched the Palace Attendant Liu Xianhe to respectfully offer sacrifice to the spirit of the late Tripiṭaka Upādhyāya Great Eloquent and Correct, Broad Wisdom, with an offering of incense and tea:

“May this spirit, whose intelligence was clear and whose innate gifts were bright and penetrating! From early on he planted pure practices, and was born possessing superior causes. He excelled in the Five Indies and travelled tens of thousands of li. His mind held the oceanic treasury [of Dharma], and his speech bridged China and the barbarian lands. He transmitted scriptures on palm leaves and expounded the teachings of Yoga, extensively benefiting millions of people and frequenting three imperial courts. His Way lay in wordlessness; his principles were devoid of traces. Nirvāṇa is eternal quiescence; to the highest sanctity all return alike. Burning incense and bathing the body, he departed along with transformation. We recently received the definitive meaning, and the rites of master and disciple were fully observed. On this day of eternal parting, profound is Our shock and grief! May the spirit look down upon this offering of incense and tea.”

On that day, the chief ministers, inner court favorites, the Six Armies of Shence, the Censor-in-Chief, the Mayor of Jingzhao, the Vice Directors of the Department of State Affairs, the Vice Ministers, the various Court Chamberlains, and the generals of the imperial guards each offered sacrifices. Their