No subject


Thu Jul 14 11:49:22 MDT 2011


translation of part of Kuiji's report for how Xuanzang acquired Dharmapala's 
commentary on the Trimsika:

--
At that time, there was a layperson, Hsüan-chien 玄鑑 (lit. 
“profound/mysterious mirror”!? Taishō gives the name as 玄鑒)  who could 
recognize the difference between phoenix and pheasant feathers, and could 
easily track the footprints of a unicorn [on land] or a dragon hidden on the 
sea bottom  (i.e., he could see that Dharmapāla was special, though ordinary 
to look at). He put whatever he had of value at [Dharmapāla’s] disposal. 
His sincerity and honesty grew ever deeper through the years. Bodhisattva 
[Dharmapāla] guided him through the many doctrines  and answered [all his 
questions] with this commentary.  Then he commanded him, saying:
 “After I die, from whomever comes to observe [me],  take one tael of gold. 
Use your ability for discerning spiritual talents  to recognize that special 
one who will be able to teach and understand [this commentary]”.
 The final end of that Profound Guide  (i.e., Dharmapāla) gradually drew 
near. The Bodhisattva’s fame rose in India, and one heard about his 
treatises and interpretations in other lands as well. Who, with any sort of 
spiritual sensitivity,  could fail to cherish his magnificence?  [Since] if 
one hears it in the morning, one can die in the evening [fulfilled],  who 
would be too stingy [to offer] gold and jewels [to behold him]?
 [After he died, the place] was bustling with the thoroughfare of hordes 
coming to see the Worthy, and soon valuables were piled as high as the Five 
Sacred Mountains. A steady line of spectators streamed in from the five 
regions of India [in such mass] as had never before been seen.

 The Great Master [Hsüan-tsang] visited all the sacred places, and he had 
the natural gift  for knowing the genuine from the false. [When he arrived 
at Dharmapāla’s shrine, he said,]  “This lacks even a trace of 
spirituality and is utterly sacrilegious. How could you leave [Buddhist] 
teachings so open to ridicule?”
 Upon hearing such marvelous reasoning  [the layman ] humbly approached and 
listened further [to Hsüan-tsang]. The layman, recalling the previous sage’s 
[i.e., Dharmapāla’s] last words, [thought] “Now this Worthy must be the 
right one!” So he gave [Hsüan-tsang] this ‘humble’ text along with [a 
copy of] Dharmapāla’s Commentary to the Pañcaskandha-prakāraṇa.
--

Dan 



More information about the buddha-l mailing list