佛祖統紀 21.9

21.9

法師可久。錢唐錢氏。天聖初。覃恩得度學教觀於淨覺。無出世志。喜為古律詩。蘇軾監郡日。嘗與師及惠勤清順為詩友。所居西湖祥符。蕭然一室。清介守貧。未嘗有憂色。軾來守錢唐。當元夕九曲觀燈。去從者獨行入師室。了無燈火。但聞瞻訇餘香。歎仰留詩。有不把流離閑照佛世知無盡本非燈之句。蒲宗孟集錢唐古今詩。求[葶-丁+呆]於師。師曰。隨得隨去。未始留也。聞者高之。晚年杜門。送客不逾閾。辟穀安坐觀練熏修。如此十餘年。窓外唯紅蕉數本。翠竹百箇。淡如也。一日謂人曰。吾死蕉竹亦死。擇瑛公亦死未幾皆驗。人嗟異之。

Dharma Master Kejiu was of the Qian clan of Qiantang. In the early Tiansheng reign, he was ordained through imperial favor, and studied the teachings and contemplation under Jingjue. He had no ambition for worldly fame and enjoyed composing old-style regulated verses. When Su Shi served as Vice Governor of the commandery, he was often poetic friends with the Master, as well as with Huiqin and Qingshun. He resided at Xiangfu on the West Lake, in a solitary room, pure and uncompromising in maintaining poverty, never showing a sorrowful countenance. When Shi came to govern Qiantang, viewing the lanterns at Jiuqu on the Lantern Festival, he left his attendants and walked alone into the Master's room. There was not a single lamp or fire, only the lingering fragrance of gardenia. Admiring him with praise, he left a poem, which included the lines: 'Not using lapis lazuli to idly illuminate the Buddha; / One knows the inexhaustible in the world is fundamentally not a lamp.' When Pu Zongmeng compiled the ancient and modern poetry of Qiantang, he sought [manuscripts] from the Master. The Master said: 'They are lost as soon as they are composed; I have never kept them.' Those who heard this esteemed him. In his late years, he closed his gate; when seeing off guests, he did not cross the threshold. He abstained from grains, sat peacefully, and practiced contemplation, refinement, smoking, and cultivation. In this manner passed more than ten years. Outside his window there were only a few red plantains and a hundred green bamboos, plain and indifferent. One day he said to others: 'When I die, the plantains and bamboos will also die, and Master Zeying will also die.' Before long, all proved true. People sighed in wonder.