佛祖統紀 33.59

33.59

戒焚亡僧不塔袈裟　律明三衣唯許傳受。未聞佛祖被亡軀而從火焚也。末代無知多行非法。有識之士尚須辨明。若坐逝不壞。結塔以葬者。猶可以被於真體。若從荼毘火化之法者。則不當披搭自取燒衣違律之過。或謂亡僧無衣者。則當如冥祥記僧妙施衣之法。云南宋江陵龍華寺僧妙既亡之後。一夕歸房靈語。弟子可宗問。和上今生何處。妙曰。粗可耳。但應受小謫。二年得免。欲訴所司為無袈裟。可急為製請僧設供以衣施之我可得也。宗如教飯僧嚫衣。既畢。比丘道猛即見妙身披衣入堂依僧次坐聽經。至散乃不復見。

Prohibition of Cremating Deceased Monks without Draping the Kāṣāya: The Vinaya clarifies that the three robes are only permitted to be passed down and received; we have never heard of the Buddhas and patriarchs having their deceased bodies draped [with them] and delivered to fire for cremation. The ignorant in this degenerate age widely perform this unlawful act; men of understanding must still distinguish this clearly. If one passes away while sitting and the body does not decompose, and a stūpa is built to inter it, it may still be draped over the real body. But if one follows the method of jhīpit (cremation), one must not drape it over the body, incurring the transgression of burning robes and violating the Vinaya. If it is said that the deceased monk will have no robe, one should follow the method of Monk Miaoshi's robe donation in the Mingxiang ji. It says: After Monk Miao of Longhua Monastery in Jiangling of the Liu Song passed away, one evening his spirit returned to his room and spoke. His disciple Kezong asked, 'Where is the Upādhyāya reborn now?' Miao said, 'Tolerably well, but I must undergo a minor penal reprimand and will be released in two years. I wished to plead with the authorities, but have no kāṣāya. Quickly make one for me, invite the sangha, provide an offering, and give the robe to them; then I will be able to obtain it.' Zong followed the instructions to feed the monks and distribute robes. When it was finished, the monk Daomeng immediately saw Miao wearing the robe, enter the hall, sit in monastic order, and listen to the sūtra recitation; only when it dispersed was he seen no more.