佛祖統紀 15.68

15.68

行人能師。嘉禾人。少學能仁。入懺室四十載。六時行道雖病不廢。唯不食數日其病自愈。行人之名遂聞江浙。年既老讀文如初學。草菴戲之曰。未忘筌耶。師曰筌何所忘。菴大慚。嘗暑中曬衣。歎曰。慷慨丈夫反同臧獲。於是散去餘長。唯留一弊絮袍。夏則束梁相間。夏日入林施蚊。一日逢二虎以身就之。虎俛首而去。山神興供一方。常與交接。香積有乏。知事來告。則力拒之。明旦施自至。皆曰。昨夜行人巡門相報。始知山神荷師以往圓覺有能仁之命。師與文首座。然指以請。及其至晝夜請益大有開悟。

Practitioner Master Neng was a native of Jiahe. In his youth he studied at Nengren. He entered the repentance hall for forty years; through the six periods [of the day and night] he practiced the Way, never neglecting it even when ill. Only by not eating for several days did his illnesses naturally heal. The fame of 'the Practitioner' was thus heard throughout Jiangnan and Zhe. When he was already old, he read the texts as if he were a beginner. Caobian teased him, saying, 'Have you not yet forgotten the fish trap?' The Master said, 'What fish trap is there to forget?' Bian was deeply ashamed. Once during the summer heat, while drying his clothes, he sighed, 'A heroic, generous man has on the contrary become like a servant.' Thereupon he gave away all his superfluous possessions, keeping only a single tattered wadded robe. In summer he folded it and bound it with a ridgepole. In summer days he entered the forest to give himself to the mosquitoes. One day he met two tigers and gave his body over to them; the tigers lowered their heads and walked away. The mountain spirit provided offerings to one region and often had contact with him. When the kitchen had shortages, the administrative monk came to report it, but [the Master] vigorously waved him off. The next morning, donations arrived of themselves; all said, 'Last night the Practitioner went from door to door informing us.' Only then did they know that the mountain spirit, on the Master's behalf, had gone. When Yuanjue received the appointment to Nengren, the Master and Head Monk Wen burned their fingers in petition [for him to come]. When he arrived, day and night they sought instruction and attained great awakening.