25. Kuang-ching
[OMITTED]
The nun Kuang-ching (Shining Peace) (d. 442) of Central
Convent of Kuang-ling
Kuang-ching's secular surname was Hu, and her given name was Tao-pei.
She was from Tung-ch'ien in the Wu-hsing Commandery [to the
south of Lake T'ai, southeast of the capital].[81]
When Kuang-ching was yet a child, she left the household life and
went with her instructor to live in Central Convent of Kuang-ling [on
the north bank of the Yangtze River, northeast of the capital of the
Sung dynasty].
Kuang-ching cultivated a diligent zeal in her religious practices
while still a young girl, and, when she grew up, she undertook in particular
the practice of meditation. She ate neither sweet nor fat foods,
and, when she was ready to accept the full obligation of the monastic
life, she gave up even cereals, eating instead only pine resin, a diet she
continued for fifteen years after becoming a full-fledged nun.[82] But,
even though her mental faculties were as clear and fresh as ever, her
body had no strength left. She prayed ardently, but she was in a constant
state of exhaustion from her efforts. The Buddhist monk Shih
Fa-ch'eng admonished her, "Eating is not the most important matter
in Buddhism."[83] When Kuang-ching heard these words, she gave up
her diet of pine resin and went back to eating ordinary rice. Nevertheless,
she doubled her heroic efforts, studying single-mindedly without
growing weary. Those who practiced contemplation under her tutelage
always numbered over one hundred.
In the fifth month of the eighteenth year of the yüan-chia reign
period (441), Kuang-ching got sick. She said, "I have been wearied
and afflicted with this body for a long time." Thereupon, because of
her illness, confession of her transgressions was never absent from her
thoughts or speech. In mind and expression she was happy and tranquil.
On New Year's Day of the nineteenth year (442), she suddenly gave
up all food and drink. Concentrating her thought on the Tushita
Heaven of Maitreya [the next Buddha], she kept it constantly in mind,
and thus she continued until the night of the fourth month and eighth
day [the Buddha's birthday],[84] when, in the presence of unusual fragrance
and good omens appearing in the sky, she died.
[81]
Wu-hsing Commandery, in present-day Chechiang Province, Wu-hsing
County. See map.
[82]
Eating only pine resin. See introduction.
[83]
His biography, Kao seng chuan 9:399.a, says that Fa-ch'eng himself
gave up eating the five grains and instead lived on a diet of pine resin.
[84]
Here we have followed the Sung, Yüan, and Ming editions. The main
edition reads, "eighteenth day."
