樂邦遺稿 2.75

2.75

《廣異志》曰「唐開元中，岐王範以無子，求道士葉靜能奏天曹。報云：『範分當無子。』靜能又牒送天曹，天曹不得已，遣二使者取愛敬寺僧為之子。二使誤至聖善寺，取某大德。其僧曰：『某平生修兜率天業，不當為人作子。』二使者乃去。時愛敬寺僧竟以此日亡，經一年岐王得一子。方六七歲，恒求往愛敬寺游翫，王縱之，每見僧如舊識者。無何長大乃多好彈射之事，斯亦逐物則意移也。」

The Guangyiji states: “During the Kaiyuan reign era of the Tang, Prince Fan of Qi, having no son, sought the Daoist master Ye Jingneng to submit a petition to the Heavenly Bureau. The reply said: ‘By destiny, Fan is not to have a son.’ Jingneng again sent an official document to the Heavenly Bureau. The Heavenly Bureau, having no choice, dispatched two emissaries to take a monk of Aijing Monastery to become his son. The two emissaries mistakenly went to Shengguan Monastery to take a certain venerable monk. That monk said: ‘Throughout my life I have cultivated the karma for the Tuṣita Heaven; I ought not to become a son to human beings.’ The two emissaries then left. At that time, a monk of Aijing Monastery eventually passed away on that very day, and after one year the Prince of Qi had a son. When he was only six or seven years old, he constantly asked to go to Aijing Monastery to play. The prince allowed him to do so, and whenever he saw the monks, it was as if seeing old acquaintances. Before long, when he grew up, he took a great liking to archery and hunting; this is also how intentions change as one pursues worldly things.”