Dharma Master Fahe lived during the Jin Dynasty. He left home at an early age and was a fellow student of Dharma Master Shi Dao’an. His name, which means “Harmonious Dharma,” implies that he was truly humble, respectful, and harmonious. He respected everyone. He was very polite and so most people called him “Never Slighting.” He was able to explain all the principles in the Sutras very clearly.
Later, he took his disciples to Sichuan, and there, all the Buddhists drew near him. Many, many people took refuge with him. Later, he went from Sichuan to Chang’an, and then to Mt. Tai and Kunlun Mountain (崑崙山), and in Jinyu Valley he built a monastery. There he lectured on the Sutras and spoke the Dharma. One time he went with Dharma Master Dao’an to look at a piece of land in the area of Tai and Kunlun Mountains. The area they looked at was extremely fine—the scenery was superb, and it was quite highly situated. First he raised it, but then he began to cry. “Ah, if we build a monastery here it will attract all kinds of tourists, and then how would we be able to cultivate?” Dharma Master Dao’an said, “Dharma Master, if you don’t have any samadhi power, there certainly is reason to be afraid. If you have samadhi power and keep your mind in its place, if you control your mind and keep it steady, what is there to be afraid of? If you have wisdom you can break through all darkness. If you haven’t any wisdom, then there is certainly cause for alarm.” Then they built a Bodhimanda there and the two Masters, Fahe and Dao’an, translated more than a hundred volumes of the Sutras. Dharma Master Fahe’s scholastic ability was excellent and similar to Dharma Master Dao’an’s.
Dharma Master Fahe was always extremely vigorous. He forgot his very life for the sake of the Dharma. The day came when he said to everyone, “There’s so much trouble and suffering in this world. It is impossible to say exactly how much there is.” So, dressed in his finest clothing, he strode majestically into the hall and before the Buddhas, made obeisance. After he finished bowing to and circumambulating the Buddhas, he returned to his room. He took his samghati robe and covered his head with it as if he were meditating. Several days passed and he did not come out of his room to take his meals. When people went to investigate, they realized he had completed the stillness; he had entered Nirvana. He had quite a sense of humor, actually.