Petition for the Flower Garland chapters in celebration of the rebuilding of Suncheonsa, on behalf of the Duke of Jingang (晉康公) — Petition offered at the dharma assembly爲晉康公重修順天寺慶讚華嚴章踈 法席疏
我佛申右手而作一寺。舊範猶存。祖師依旁行而演十玄。羣疑自落。苟勤弘暢。卽格感通。有古精藍。閱年幾紀。山鍾秀異。本國家奉福之場。地接淸幽。宜龍象栖眞之所。然屋宇甚庳而未合壯觀。抑榱椽漸古而已不堪支。如吾官重而祿豐。忍不爲創。雖至歲欹而日圮。其誰有修。載加土木之功。更賁奐輪之美。重檐鱗疊。高棟翬飛。至若幢幡鍾磬之莊嚴。與夫丹雘漆髹之彩飾。種種皆具。一一可觀。及當畢務之初。將擧落成之典。高張猊座。廣集鵬耆。剋五十日之法筵。談八九會之玄旨。微言衮衮。如巨壑之傾波。曠解迢迢。若高山之炤日。音聲作供。眞實是香。苟毫許之營爲。得瞥頃之感契。伏願聖上陛下嚮箕疇之五福。坐擁太平。等竺室之萬籌。茂延遐壽。五兵火戢。四海波恬。
Our Buddha stretched out his right hand and raised a monastery, and the old pattern of it remains still; the patriarch, leaning on writings set down sideways, unfolded the ten hidden meanings, and the host of doubts fell away of itself. Truly, if one is diligent in spreading it abroad, one comes at once to response and communion.
There is an old monastery that has passed many years. The mountain has gathered an excelling breath, so that from the first it was a place where the state upheld its blessing; and the ground is clear and secluded, fit as a place where great monks may lodge in the true. But the halls are too low to match a mighty prospect, and the rafters, growing old, can no longer bear up. Should a man like me, heavy in office and ample in stipend, bear not to build it anew? If it came to leaning year by year and falling day by day, who would mend it?
And so the labor of earth and timber was added, and the beauty of its breadth and greatness shines again. The double eaves lie folded like scales, and the high ridgepole is as a pheasant in flight. Down to the splendor of flagstaffs and banners, bells and chimes, and the fair ornament of red lacquer and black, every kind is fully provided, and each one worth the seeing.
Now that the work is finished we would hold the rite of completion. The lion seat has been set high and great monks gathered from far. Appointing a dharma assembly of fifty days, we discourse on the hidden meaning of the eight and nine Flower Garland convocations. The subtle words roll on, as a great valley tips its waves; the broad exposition stretches far, as a high mountain shines bright in the sunlight. Sound is made our offering, and truly this is incense. Truly, if even a hair's worth of sincerity is put in, one wins a response in the blink of an eye.
Prostrate, I pray that His Majesty enjoy the five blessings and, sitting still, embrace great peace, and that his long life increase and thicken like the ten thousand tallies of the Buddha's house. Let the five weapons be put away as a fire goes out, and the waves of all the seas lie calm.