貞元新定釋教目錄 15.4.5

15.4.5

[…] India. Traveling through valleys and mountains, he journeyed far across many lands. Wherever he encountered sacred traces, he offered his utmost sincerity and paid obeisance. Whenever he heard of scripture and teachings, he exhausted every plea of fervent petition. Searching out the subtle and profound, he penetrated broadly into the deep and secret teachings. Though his sincere mind was plain and humble, his vow was to propagate them widely. Thus he obtained the aforementioned scriptures and treatises. Yet since arriving at the central capital, he had not yet translated them. Missing was their copying, and their reception and practice had lapsed. He especially hoped that the Dragon's [Imperial] compassion would grant permission for them to be translated, so that the Dharma assembly might be spread anew and the path of maintenance cleared, and that the Buddha-sun, risen once more, might further expand the achievement of promulgation. Heavenly grace granted permission, and it was promulgated to the authorities in charge, with the imperial decree following the memorial.

Furthermore, on the third day of the ninth month of that year, he presented merits, submitting a memorial with the details above, which read:

'One amber image of Ratnasaṃbhava Tathāgata. One copy of the Mahāpratisarā-dhāraṇī written in Indic script.

To the right: In former times, when the Yellow River ran clear, an auspicious era commenced; a grasping lightning flash signaled good omen. Coinciding with the Double Ninth festival, there was born a sage of a thousand years. Because Your Majesty truly received the precious throne, the statue bears the name "Ratnasaṃbhava" [Treasure-born]. Because Your Majesty, giving rise to thought, brings about immediate comprehension, the luminous spell bears the designation "Pratisarā" [According to Prayer]. That the image can shine with brilliant radiance completely penetrating is like Your Majesty illuminating the four quarters. That the luminous spell can awe and subdue demonic adversaries is like Your Majesty subduing ten thousand states with awe. Respectfully examining the Vajraśekhara-sūtra, when all Tathāgatas attain unexcelled complete enlightenment, they all receive the initiation of Ratnasaṃbhava. So it is that Your Majesty's profound merit accords with heaven and governs the state with the true Dharma, with deeds and seasons coalescing like tallies fitting together. We humbly hope that, slightly cultivating reverent mindfulness, [Your Majesty] will seal and wear it. Then the holding of the luminous spell will surely shed its radiance around, broadly extending supreme transformation to the land of Donghu, while the root deity extends protection, prolonging the sage's longevity to that of the Southern Mountains. Incapable of bearing the utmost rejoicing, [I] respectfully present it along with this memorial. Lightly desecrating the royal screen and imperial pendants, I am overcome with trembling and dread. Respectfully presented.'

The Qianyuan Guangtian Wenwu Dasheng Xiaogan Emperor endorsed it, saying:
'The appearances and forms of the Buddhas are as rare to behold as the udumbara. The secret treasury and divine mantras of the Tathāgatas are beyond conception. The Master has broadly opened the school of Emptiness and is capable of upholding the secret seals. Using this true Dharma to widely protect Our person, to faithfully receive and practice it is of profound benefit.'

Reaching the leap-fourth month, fourteenth day of Qianyuan 3, the Palace Grounds Patrol Commissioner, Defender-Lieutenant of the Right Internal Guard Corps, Supernumerary Staff Member Treated as Substantive, Awarded the Purple and Gold Fish Bag, Internal Flying Dragon Messenger in Active Duty, official Shi Yuancong, submitted a memorial requesting that an initiation bodhimaṇḍa be cultivated at Daxingshan Monastery:

'To the right: Your servant has observed in private that the methods for crossing over disasters and warding off difficulties do not surpass the secret Mahāyāna. Of the approaches of the Mahāyāna, initiation is supreme. Now, falling in the leap-summer month when the hundred flowers are in full bloom, I humbly hope that the Tripiṭaka [Master] Amoghavajra may be ordered to cultivate an initiation bodhimaṇḍa for the state at the aforementioned monastery. It contains teachings for extinguishing calamity and increasing benefits; it possesses the power to subjugate and bring rejoicing. Upholding this power of merit to eradicate all villains, it will above augment the sage's longevity without boundary, and relying on this, the myriad people will enjoy purity and peace. Your servant originally has no talent or virtue, yet has been favored with imperial duty. Respectfully offering my humble sincerity, my trembling and sweating are redoubled. If heavenly grace should grant your servant's memorial, I request a black-ink imperial edict in accordance.'

On the nineteenth day of the leap-month, the era was changed to the first year of Shangyuan, still the year Gengzi. On the twenty-fifth day of the eighth month, Li Fuguo, Palace Attendant Opening Office with Equal Three Dignities and Adjudicator of Field Armies, announced the imperial decree: 'The Tripiṭaka [Master] Amoghavajra and three monk disciples should cultivate merit at Zhiju Monastery.'

On the twenty-first day of the ninth month of the second year, Xinchou, a general amnesty was granted throughout the realm. The titles of Qianyuan Guangtian and others were removed, leaving only the address 'Emperor.' The title of Shangyuan was also abolished, calling it simply 'the second year.' Taking the new moon of the eleventh month as the beginning of the year, it was called simply 'the first year.' Furthermore, the designations of the first, second, third, and fourth months were abolished, taking the earthly branch of the month's orientation as their designations: the first year, Renyin, Month of Establishing Zi, Month of Establishing Chou, Month of Establishing Yin, Month of Establishing Mao, Month of Establishing Chen, Month of Establishing Si. On the fifth day [of the Month of Establishing Si], the Retired Emperor passed away after his testamentary decree was concluded. Reaching the fifteenth day, Chuzhou presented a jade disc. On this day, the era was changed to the first year of Baoying, still the year Renyin. The fourth and fifth months and so on all reverted to standard numbering. Emperor Suzong decreed that the Crown Prince act as regent of the realm, and graciously pardoned all prisoners. On the eighteenth day of that month, Emperor Suzong passed away after his testamentary decree was concluded. On the twentieth day, Daizong ascended the imperial throne. On the sixteenth day of the fifth month, a general amnesty was granted throughout the realm.

Reaching the thirteenth day of the tenth month, the Tripiṭaka Śramaṇa Amoghavajra of Daxingshan Monastery presented a memorial offering: one carved white sandalwood image of Mārīcī (translated here as 'Awe-Inspiring Light') and one copy of the Mahoṣṇīṣa-dhāraṇī written in Indic script.

'To the right: Amoghavajra, fortunate to have met with the holy dynasty early on and served its glorious brightness, then encountered the dawn of [Your Majesty's] birth, and further met with the day of [Your Majesty's ascension as] the Golden-Wheel King. Humbly we consider: Your Majesty's life extends the precious throne, and the revered statue bears the name "Awe-Inspiring Light." Because Your Majesty stands at the head of a hundred kings, the mantra bears the title "Buddha-Crown" [Uṣṇīṣa]. Respectfully examining the Mahoṣṇīṣa: when all Tathāgatas attain unexcelled complete enlightenment, they all receive this mantra; even down to the imperial rank of the Golden Wheel, none fail to follow and practice it. Humbly we consider: Your Majesty, receiving Heaven's will, has ascended the throne, and the sage's governance is renewed. Governing the state with the true Dharma accords with the spiritual realm. We humbly hope that, slightly cultivating reverent mindfulness, [Your Majesty] will seal and wear it. Then it will broadly extend supreme transformation to the Eastern Region, and prolong the sage's longevity to that of the Southern Mountains. Incapable of bearing the utmost rejoicing, [I] respectfully present it along with this memorial. Lightly desecrating the royal screen and imperial majesty, I am overcome with trembling and dread. Respectfully spoken.'

The Emperor endorsed it, saying:
'The auspicious sandalwood image and the authentic palm-leaf text—South India is far away, and they are difficult to encounter in the central realm. The Superior One, with compassionate pity, has brought them sealed and protected; not keeping them secret to the Saṃgha, he has transmitted them to the imperial gates. Gaining what was never before had brings genuine comfort to Our heart.'

On the tenth day of the seventh month of Baoying 2, the reign title of Baoying Yuansheng Wenwu Emperor was bestowed; the year was Guimao. On the eleventh day of the seventh month, the era was changed to the first year of Guande; the year was still Guimao. On the fourteenth day of the eleventh month, the Tripiṭaka Śramaṇa Amoghavajra of Daxingshan Monastery requested to establish an initiation bodhimaṇḍa for the state:

'To the right: Amoghavajra has heard that Vairocana encompasses ten thousand realms, and the secret seals and true tallies swallow all scriptures. In accordance with their teachings, there are the sudden and the gradual. "Gradual" refers to the Śrāvakas of the Hīnayāna ascending the altar as a place of learning; "sudden" refers to the initiation Dharma gate for Bodhisattva-Mahāsattvas. This is the level path to reaching the ultimate, the authentic station for entering Buddhahood. "Crown" [mūrdhan/uṣṇīṣa] refers to the crown of the head, representing the supreme loftiness of great practice. "Initiation" [abhiṣeka] refers to pouring on and upholding, clarifying the protective mindfulness of all Buddhas. Transcending and attaining release—what does not proceed from this? For this reason, disciplining oneself and serving diligently without sparing day or night, vowing in intention to praise and admire—how could one dare to be negligent? It is hoped that during midsummer and the three long-fast months of each year, [an initiation platform] may be erected according to the sūtras, adorning pure flowers to open awakening, causing those with consciousness to return to truth. Thus may the frontiers be quieted, and the sage's person enjoy myriad longevities. Incapable of bearing the utmost sincerity, I respectfully proceed to the Right Yintai Gate to present this memorial of request for imperial awareness. If heavenly grace should permit it, I pray it be decreed.'